Fort McMurray residents attempt to flee the wildfire on Alberta Highway 63. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)
Members of CFB Trenton have left for Alberta as a raging out of control wildfire continues to run through more neighbourhoods in Fort McMurray.
Daniel Blouin with the Department of National Defense tells Quinte News a C-130J Hercules left for CFB Cold Lake that sits just south of Fort McMurray.
They are expected to arrive at 4 p.m. local time.
The Canadian military has deployed helicopters and transport planes in response to the wildfire that has destroyed 1,600 structures in the city and scorched a number of neighbourhoods yesterday.
Four CH-146 Griffon helicopters are en route to perform evacuations in surrounding communities under threat from the raging blaze.
Additionally, a C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift transport is on standby to aid in the movement of firefighters and equipment.
Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, who is in charge of the 3rd Canadian Division and the military commander for Western Canada, calls it a “dynamic” situation and planners are looking ahead at what kinds of requests could come next.
He says the Alberta government is expected to formally ask other provinces and northern U.S. states for help in fighting the fire and the air force could play a role in getting crews to where they are needed.
Eyre says the Hercules is suited for landing on remote roads and could be employed getting firefighters into isolated locations.
Meanwhile, firefighters face another grim day of trying to stop a 75-square-kilometre fire from doing any more damage. Alberta Emergency Measures head Scott Long says the outlook isn’t encouraging.
Premier Rachel Notley says a key focus of the firefighting effort was the city’s hospital with all patients evacuated safely.
Alberta Health Services head Verna Yui says a good number of those evacuees were babies.
Officials believe all 80,000 residents are out of the city.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued yesterday, sending thousands of people onto Highway 63 to escape the flames.
Evacuee Tim Eaton says he got out of his neighbourhood as the fire was closing in — adding he could see the flames blowing in his direction.
(With files from the Canadian Press)
