FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) – Alberta premier’s declared Canada’s oil sands city saved and said a plan will be put together within two weeks so 88,000 residents forced to evacuate can return to their homes.
At least two neighborhoods in Fort McMurray were scenes of utter devastation with incinerated homes leveled to the ground from a wildfire that the city’s fire chief called a “beast … a fire like I’ve never seen in my life.”
But the wider picture was more optimistic as Fire Chief Darby Allen said 85 percent of the city remains intact, including the downtown district.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said about 2,400 homes and buildings were destroyed, but firefighters managed to save 25,000 others, including the hospital, municipal buildings and every functioning school.
“This city was surrounded by an ocean of fire only a few days ago but Fort McMurray and the surrounding communities have been saved and they will be rebuilt,” Notley said.