Alberta On Fire

[Patsy33]

How scary is this? Wild fires are spreading at an alarming rate in Fort McMurray. Thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods. The dry warm start to the year hasn't helped, which is very unusual for this part of the world. Just read fire spreading West of Edmonton. My sister lives to the east of the city. Absolute nightmare for the poor people out there. I hope they get all the help they need trying to put these fires out.

[murraymints]

brother in Calgary..not in the zone though ..poor peeps

[gness]

Horrendous isn't it, Patsy.......I have friends in the area. It's spreading so quickly....how can they get it under control with the dry conditions and the winds.....a nightmare for everyone.....x

[Chipchopper]

Seems extraordinary, so early in the year, I've spent some time in western Canada, such a beautiful place.
I hope they soon bring the fire under control, for the sake of the people and wildlife!

[Patsy33]

Yes Chipchopper, it is very beautiful W.Canada. I've visited a few times and people very warm and friendly. Apparently, government hasn't offered help yet!

[Hopkirk]

We have changed the climate, haven't we?

[gness]

We have, Hoppy...... :-(

I've heard Trudeau offer full support, Patsy....x

[Patsy33]

Gness, sorry I meant Alberta government. Glad Trudeau's helping. He seems a decent man.

[Old_Geezer]

How, at this time, can such a massive fire get uncontrolled ? Did the fort planners not consider what risks there were, and ensure building positioning and resistant building materials were considered ? I don't claim to be an expert but I was flabbergasted this could happen when I saw it on the news. In Canada too.

[gness]

I like him, Patsy.....his father was PM when we lived there......slightly bonkers at times.....but I rather liked him too.....

Can't imagine what all these people are going through....x

[retrocop]

I heard the Canadian Defence Ministry were offering all logistical assistance needed.

[Patsy33]

My sister said they haven't really had a winter to speak of. Last year was much the same. As Hopkirk mentioned, probably climate change?. When I first visited the Rockies 18 years ago, we went up the ice fields and was told ice had receded quite considerably then. So it seems the ice is melting due to the earth warming up possibly.

[viv41]

Poor wildlife.

[Patsy33]

I know Viv. Heart breaking..

[viv41]

As sad as it is for the people Patsy, they will be helped and can move themselves away from the carnage, not so the wildlife who always come of worse at times like this. Poor souls.

[stuey]

We just had a call saying that an uncle of Mrs stuey has had his house destroyed. I agree with others who mention the horrendous affect upon the wildlife, as well as the human aspect.

[Zacs-Master]

Stuey, do they get insurance on their houses or is like us with the flooding; two strikes and no policy?

[Patsy33]

Sorry to hear that Stuey. Absolutely devastating for all concerned. My sister who lives not too far away said there's is no moisture in the air like there usually is this time of year. It's like a tinder box. She fears for Alberta.

[stuey]

I have no idea, Zacs. The difference in temperatures is amazing: It's still only in the mid teens in the Toronto area.

[albaqwerty]

it's horrendous and scary. Where on earth do 80,000 people go, hopefully some will have relatives elsewhere to help out.
Last I heard from an acquaintance was that half of the town had gone up in flames.
All those memories lost.

I too, feel for the wildlife

[stuey]

I'm surprised and disappointed that no aid from such neighbouring states as Montana, Idaho, and Washington has been offered, especially in the form of water-bombers. We quite often send assistance down there in such an emergency. Toronto has sent around 100 fire-fighters.