88,000 flee as major wildfire breaks out at Fort McMurray, Canada

[Bob]

We need rain, now..

from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...wing-1.3568035

Fire officials in Alberta do not yet know what started a massive wildfire that chased the entire population out of Fort McMurray, but they now know the only force that can stop it will be a significant change in the weather.

Supercharged by winds of up to 70 km/h, the wildfire ballooned to 85,000 hectares overnight and is now raging on several fronts near the oilsands city.

The main fire, now south of the city, is expected to continue to burn out of control today and perhaps for many days to come.

"Let me be clear, air tankers are not going to stop this fire," Morrison said. "This is an extreme fire event.

It's going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain to help us.

"I expect this fire to continue to grow over the next number of days."

In addition to the firefighters battling the blaze in the boreal forest, more than firefighters and trucks are in the city itself, protecting homes and buildings.

The temperature is forecast to be much lower today, around 16 C, but winds are expected to blow from the northwest up to 40 km/h.

"We expect the fire to continue to grow in the southeast corner," Morrison said, "but it will be going away from the community."

Portions of the city remain at risk, but it is not clear how grave that risk currently is.

"Yesterday we had air tankers actually water-bombing residential neighbourhoods," Premier Rachel Notley said.

This fire is creating it's own lightning now

"It has begun to create its own weather, even creating its own high winds yesterday, and even lightning was coming from the smoke clouds," Morrison said.

Near the airport, the Nova Hotel, an ATCO Gas building, a maintenance shop, and portions of the airport fire hall were destroyed by the flames, Transport Canada confirmed Thursday morning.

The fire has now burned well past the airport, moving steadily south. With northwest winds forecast to be 40 km/h later today, the fire is expected to continue pushing south, away from the city.

A view from a camera at the Fort McMurray International Airport shows the fire engulfing a nearby outbuilding on Wednesday night.

Live webcam:

http://www.metcam.navcanada.ca/hb/pl...&cam=65&lang=e

Link: https://www.webcamgalore.com/EN/webc...ray/20908.html

[Bob]

NASA Satellite view - time lapse

In the updated animation below - a series of imagery from NASA's Terra, Aqua and Suomi NPP satellites - reveal how the fires have progressed from overnight Sunday through to overnight on Thursday.

(Source tracker)

Fort McMurray city lights are dwarfed by surrounding fires in this #VIIRS Day/Night Band image.

Mixed in with the clouds and smoke in the last panel above, on May 4, are pyro-cumulus clouds.

Normal puffy cumulus clouds are formed as heat radiated from sunlit ground warms the air, causing it to rise and cool, which condenses out the water vapour in that parcel of air.

Pyro-cumulus form in almost the exact same way, except the source of heat is the wildfire.

Since the heat being released is far more intense than you'd see during the development of a normal cumulus cloud, the air in and around these clouds can be very turbulent.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=u8rk18OsFiY

[Ellisa]

Often rain seems to follow huge fires. I hope this happens here. I was listening to the news about these fires and it was suggested that the oil-shhale (is that what it's called?) was feeding the blaze.

Creating rain is a problem and I believe it is not attempted in Australia any more, even though the fires here are getting more frequent and more fierce every year because, we are told, of Climate Change. Certainly we too have had drought and water shortages in various parts of the country, including some places that have never been so dry before.

I feel so sorry for the people evacuated from their homes. They have no way of knowing what they will find on their return. The size of those fires looks horrific, and if the oil is fuelling the flames along with the pine tree resin, it's going to be hard to put out. Thanks for that post Bob, it is very informative--- and suggests the possibility of at least some rain. I do think the chirpy weatherman could tone it down a bit though.

[avid]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=mCtw-A_zwh4

Another fire breakout in British Columbia, near oil facilities.
Earlier in this thread, that was predicted.......

http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/dmf-viewer...84402955244847
Shows fires in BC, apparently they have been going for the last 3 weeks, according to someone living at Fort St John commenting on the above video on Michael's fb page.

[DeDukshyn]

To continue the conspiratorial view ... In radio news on my way home from work yesterday, investigators have now attributed the fire in at fort McMurray to be human caused - not naturally started which can easily happen with dry conditions and dry lightning.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/lack-...ssor-1.2887946

Humans are the leading cause of wildfires in Canada, says a forest fire researcher who believes the latest blaze that has ripped through parts of Fort McMurray, Alta., is no exception.

Mike Flanagan, a professor of wildland fires at the University of Alberta, says the fire's proximity to the city, as well as data that shows there were no lightning strikes in the area, lead him to believe the cause of the fire was likely human.

[drgreig]

At the heart of this devastating fire - IS HUMANITY!! This disaster is proving how people come together at times of adversity - and it is SO inspiring!!!

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-fire-evacuees

[avid]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle29909720/

The wildfires near Fort St John BC have spread into Alberta. Looking at the app link on my previous post, zoom into each fire and it states the cause. Frequently, it states 'person'.

[Pam]

I find this really terrifying that they are having these wild fires at this time of year. These are the type of fires one might see in the mid to late summer, in the early Spring it is really scary. Something about this seems really strange.

[Bob]

Posted by avid (here)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle29909720/

The wildfires near Fort St John BC have spread into Alberta. Looking at the app link on my previous post, zoom into each fire and it states the cause. Frequently, it states 'person'.

In the post #22 above see this pix animation:

(notice the fire locations and clusters and how they are spaced - appears to be very linearly spaced. Early on it was pointed out the issue with oil being too low, and the reference to who originally drove prices.. conspiracy? Maybe in the making - production areas, refineries, er.. Macondo Well disaster "Gulf Oil Spill" again type of scenario? drive prices UP due to perceived shortage?)

== update == 35% of the oilsands output have been shut-down, amounting to about 1 million barrels a day.. Producers FAR away from the fire are shutting down operations (perceived shortage manipulation possibility?)

Area map of production facilities surrounding Fort McMurray:

Notice near Anzac, at Long Lake, the CNOOC project (China).. If one recalls a while back when the Keystone Pipeline was being blocked to directly ship the bitumen to US refineries, China wanted to get the oil shipped to it by sponsoring and backing pipelines to the west Coast.. (interesting coincidences?)

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by peterpam (here)
I find this really terrifying that they are having these wild fires at this time of year. These are the type of fires one might see in the mid to late summer, in the early Spring it is really scary. Something about this seems really strange.

Northern BC and Alberta almost always have many fires raging throughout the summer -- this is the main difference here. It has never been seen this early into the year - especially when things are supposed to be more wet. Little snow over the winter, and almost no rain at all this spring coupled with the unusually early temps up to 30C (mid 80sF) in central Alberta, make this year unique.

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by drgreig (here)
At the heart of this devastating fire - IS HUMANITY!! This disaster is proving how people come together at times of adversity - and it is SO inspiring!!!

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-fire-evacuees

I just want to comment on this interesting and often overlooked aspect of this, and other disasters around the world lately. The amount of donations, and people offering to volunteer services from all across Alberta has been staggering! The problem is logistics more than anything; not much shortage of care, practical donations (everyday items we take for granted that evacuated people need), money donations, and people volunteering their time. This shows me that in in a world being turned worse, when push comes to shove, people get better; or are at least more comfortable expressing care and love for their fellow man. It is telling, and wonderful to see in contrast to all the corruption around us.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/albert...QI3?li=AAggv0m

http://globalnews.ca/news/2679416/pr...e-in-edmonton/

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feder...rray-1.2889070

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...omes-1.3570927

And this is incredible drgreig (thanks for initial post) ... the Syrian refugees that came to Canada stepping up to the plate to in turn help others in need .. contagious isn't it?

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-fire-evacuees

[Bob]

Possibly where it started and how and where it spread:

It depends on if the satellite was overhead watching at the time to get an accurate report of the initial where and when...

[avid]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...john-1.3570364

More evacuation orders in BC, Fort St John, including homelands of native people.
The largest fire 90 miles NE of this at Siphon River has spread into Alberta.
I wonder if all these 'clearances' will ever go back to normal?

[Bob]

We Need Rain - NOW

is the mantra being uttered by the firefighter trying to create control where they can with air drops of fire retardant.

A cold front crossing Alberta this weekend will bring cooler temperatures to northern and central regions on Sunday, spreading south and east for early next week.

Southwesterly winds ahead of the front could gust up to 60 km/h, which will add to the risk of the fire spreading. Additionally, strong winds of up to 70 km/h could come behind this front Sunday, adding more fuel to the fire.

"Next week will bring some localized and temporary precipitation relief, but not the widespread soaking rain that the region needs," says Dr. Doug Gillham, another meteorologist at The Weather Network.

This is what the inside of a fire fighting tanker "AIRPLANE" looks like. Those tanks are not being used to spray "chemtrails", but contain fire-retardant chemicals.. Looking at the image above, one can see the RANGE of the "spraying", and the altitude that the plane has to be at to make ANY small difference to the massive in comparison, EMISSION of pollutants being created by a wildfire..

Above, the TANKS inside an airplane used for spraying fire retardant.

This below is what "spraying" looks like, the altitudes needed, the volume which is released, and the density of the retardant. Such currently is being sprayed strategically in areas where an attempt to diminish spontaneous ignition of structures.

What's happening to rescue the 4 legged critters? Families took what pets they could with them in the massive exodus convoys out of the area. Many didn't make it out..

What happens to the larger livestock during a fire of this size?

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society and the Calgary Humane Society needed 900 crates to be dropped off Thursday at their Calgary shelters to send north.

They received more than enough kennel donations, some of which were flown to Suncor camps that are housing evacuees who did manage to get their pets out in time. The company is now in the process of flying people and their pets to the south.

The large animal question again? Here is how it was answered:

There is no question that firefighters did what they could. Despite images of the sooty firefighter saving Bambi, human life — including that of the firefighters — ranks as the top firefighting priority, followed by human property and the commercial value of the trees.

Animals must fend for themselves.

[Cardillac]

sceptic that I am I can't help wondering what has been hidden in this area someone felt had to be destroyed; my heart goes out to all human victims who have had to abbandon all of their earthly possessions for a most probable political agenda and to all the precious wildlife that is being incinerated alive (no publicity about this aspect)-

Larry

[pueblo]

Has a meteorite strike been considered as a possible cause? Seem to be lots of them in that part of the world

[Bob]

“In no way is this fire under control,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said.

Officials had hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Fort McMurray on Saturday.

Notley said about 12,000 evacuees have been airlifted from oil sands mine air fields over the past two days, and about 7,000 have left in highway convoys escorted by police.

She said the goal was to complete the evacuation from northern work camps by Sunday.

The fire could reach the edges of the Suncor oil sands facility, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Fort McMurray.

Suncor's main facility:

Non-essential staff have been evacuating during the week, and efforts to protect the site were underway.

Notley, however, said that the facility was highly resilient to forest fires.

Oil sands mines are cleared and have no vegetation.

Massive Reserves

Historically, the Alberta oil sands have the third-largest discovered reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

About 25,000 evacuees moved north in the hours after Tuesday’s mandatory evacuation, where oil sands work camps that usually house employees were used to house evacuees. Officials are moving everyone south where it is safer.

Syncrude, a major oil sands mining company, also shut down operations and evacuated. The company said in a statement that while there is no imminent threat from fire, smoke has reached its Mildred Lake site. They intend to have all personnel out this weekend and started the evacuation early Saturday.

Universities and colleges across Calgary continued to open their doors to Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees Saturday and hundreds have arrived so far.

North of Alberta, is the North West Territories - The N.W.T.'s chief public health officer is warning residents in that region which borders northern Alberta about the effects of inhaling smoke which is drifting north from the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Are embers in that smoke?

Are the embers starting new fires, or is it human caused, or Natural caused (i.e. lightning) ?

Some Alberta officials have said, the fire may NOT be out for at least a YEAR..(winter rains/snows would be needed).. Saskatchewan is concerned that the fires will spread into its Province. British Columbia’s Forests Minister says his Province can’t send personnel to neighbouring Alberta before dealing with its own fires spurred by unseasonably dry weather.

There are currently 85 fires burning in British Columbia, and 57 of them are in the Prince George fire region. Siphon Creek fire burning in the Peace region of BC is likely to cross the border into Alberta, and if it does, BC crews will continue to fight it so Alberta can concentrate resources in Fort McMurray. Seven fires are causing concern in the Peace region, where five evacuation alerts have been issued.

Fire officials say the Fort McMurray wildfire is still spreading and is so massive that only a significant amount of rain can bring it under control.

With the cold front comes shifting winds.

"There's another cold front coming through and ahead of that front it's going to be very gusty, so this morning that could cause some significant growth as the winds shift and move through,"

[Bob]

Rain, a little bit is currently appearing at the PATRICIA MCINNES AIR MONITORING STATION (TIMBERLEA) - a live feed from WBEA’s Patricia McInnes air monitoring station in the Timberlea area of Fort McMurray. (in the pix below, NW part of the city)

For points of reference, the station is located on Cartier Road and Carteret Drive beside the local skate park and adjacent to Syncrude Athletic Park.

A little bit of rain can be seen on the streets and the camera lens.. It is way to little to create any significant impact at the moment to the wildfires.. It is a start. Much more rain is needed without the wind. (Winds are slight, < 5mph apparently being seen at the recording station).

[Cardillac]

@pueblo

I just don't think we should rule out anything; but I tend to think if there was a meteor strike (it's non-conspiratorial) causing this I think this would've been printed in MSM;

what makes me so suspicious about this whole hideous event is that the MSM (as if we can trust it) has not stated any particular cause for this catasrophe (or did I miss something somewhere?); no lightning strikes, no suspicion of arson, no meteor strikes, etc. which makes me think there is something much deeper to all of this (most probably internal arson- but WHY?)-

I just find it incredibly strange the MSM has not yet stated one possible CAUSE for this debacle which makes me think there is something more to this catastrophe than we're being told- and it must be HUGE-

please be well-

Larry

[East Sun]

Call HAARP and order rain, lots of rain===I'm serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11