Alberta Oil Sands Fire

SEPARATOR- Alberta Oil Sands Fire

Fort McMurray, Alberta: Entire Canadian Oil Sand City Evacuated by Wildfire May 4, 2016 VIDEO & PHOTOS

VIDEO: Fort McMurray, Alberta: Entire Canadian Sand Oil City Evacuated by Wildfire :VIDEO

The entire population of the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire whipped by winds engulfed homes and sent ash raining down on residents.

More than 80,000 residents have been ordered to flee after an earlier order that had applied to almost 30,000 people, mostly on the city's south side, was extended to tens of thousands more as flames continued to make their way into the city.

Pic 2. alalam_635979633668466166_25f_4x3

Highway 63 is the only road out of the city and flames jumped the road. The wildfire, whipped by unpredictable winds on a day of high temperatures, worsened dramatically in a short time and many residents had little notice to flee.

Pic 3. alalam_635979633867926110_25f_4x3

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said officials were doing all they could to ensure everyone's safety and said they were looking into the possibility of an airlift for residents with medical issues.

VIDEO: VIDEO: Entire Canadian Oil Sand City Evacuated by Wildfire