As wildfires raged in Fort McMurray, people were ordered to flee their homes in a mass exodus to safety.
Photos of the fire lit up social media as people rushed to escape. Many people tweeted about traffic jams getting out of the city.
Jennifer Barr is a teacher in Fort McMurray; she left work to back up her belongings.
“I’m sitting across from friends’ homes and I know that they can go up while I’m sitting here,” she told News Talk Radio by phone as she was stuck in traffic.
Her priority is trying to get to back to her family.
“Families are split apart, and it’s just stressful, sitting here watching it just so close,” she said. “We have friends that are…they’re split up in two different directions, they have some people on this side of the fire.”
Barr said she was brainstorming with her daughter on Monday night on how to help those who were evacuated, without realizing that they would be among those forced to flee their homes.
Smoke and flame forced staff of local music radio station Country 93.3 to abandon their studio. Morning host Pete Potipcoe said his northward drive from downtown Fort McMurray to Timberlea, usually takes five minutes, but today it took an hour and a half, all with fire and black clouds of smoke and ash at their back.
“It is apocalyptic. I reminds me of a thunderstorm when everything goes dead dark, except it’s nothing but smoke,” he said. “The skies are filled with helicopters and water bombers trying their best.”
He described the air as thick and humid as cars struggled to move in bumper to bumper traffic.
He is also concerned about his home after hearing reports that the McDonald’s several yards from his home was on fire.
Oil sands worker Ian Seggie was sent home from work Tuesday and is now also heading north along Highway 63 with his family.
“When the local radio station suddenly went off the air, that was an indiciation that your communication lifeline was ending and it was time to get out of here,” he said, adding people are trying to escape the fire any way they can. “I’m seeing people walking the highway with suitcases right now.”
Seggie and his family are heading to industrial camps that have opened their doors to evacuees.
Our head of emerg mgmt has reached out to counterpart in Alberta to see if SK can help. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ people of Ft McMurray.
— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) May 3, 2016
My thoughts are with people affected by the fire in Fort McMurray tonight. Stay safe and remember to follow evacuation orders. #ymmfire
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 3, 2016
#FortMcMurray #wildfire getting way too close pic.twitter.com/7DYU0xGS4u
— Jerome Garot (@jeromegarot) May 4, 2016
Flames visible from Walmart parking lot now #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/G14QjbjSMF
— Glen A. (@Glen_Allan_) May 3, 2016
My harrowing drive evacuating #ymm praying for my friends pic.twitter.com/XGFWfavqR2
— Jordan J Stuffco (@jstuffcocrimlaw) May 3, 2016
Walmart parking lot view #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/FSkLBy2CKF
— Glen A. (@Glen_Allan_) May 3, 2016
Reports of homes on fire in #FortMcMurray Get Alberta Emergency info HERE: https://t.co/WguS4Im0x7 #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/ZacF7Bnr4c
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) May 3, 2016
By house leaving Evacuation in Order Fort McMurray #wildfire #ymmfire #ymm @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/1ymM3Hgm2T
— Canadian Home Grown (@mary_sexsmith) May 3, 2016
Final look from Abasand. We’re getting out and you should too. #ymm #ymmfire @ctvedmonton pic.twitter.com/3KUyQIPnzE
— Sean Amato (@JSJamato) May 3, 2016
North is the only way. #fortmcmurray #wildfire #alberta #fire #nature #canada pic.twitter.com/nv236saKCW
— Jerome Garot (@jeromegarot) May 4, 2016
Evacuation Update: May 3, 3:55 p.m. #ymm #rmwb #ymmfire #fortmcmurray pic.twitter.com/8Bwa4htP9R
— Emergency Services (@FM_EmergService) May 3, 2016
Hwy63 and King St. Everyone is fleeing but it’s moving very slow. @ctvedmonton ymm #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/d3u0g4D2WE
— Sean Amato (@JSJamato) May 3, 2016
Massive traffic jam in #ymm as people in the Abasand area flee homes and schools. #ymm #ymmfire @ctvedmonton pic.twitter.com/UVzXsR3mCd
— Sean Amato (@JSJamato) May 3, 2016
The forest surrounding Fort McMurray is engulfed in fire outbreak ,all sides of the town is surrounded by fire . pic.twitter.com/a4LhUPPVF0
— jama (@liljamiez) May 3, 2016
If you are in the #ymm area, here are the emergency details: https://t.co/doJtgLFg0q #ymmfire
— Leejay Schmidt (@leejayschmidt) May 3, 2016
We (@steve_reeve, @ItsMattLOL Cat and cats) are leaving fort Mcmurray. We are at the confed intersection on 63 headed north. Safe.
— Ashley Laurenson (@ashcakesquiggle) May 3, 2016
Just got this photo from my old #ymm Program Director. He tells @660NEWS his home can burn tonight. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/nevE439mAN
— Crystal Laderas (@CrisLaderas) May 3, 2016