Evacuee Describes Wildfires as 'Apocalyptic Horror'

ByEMILY SHAPIRO ABCNews logo
Saturday, May 7, 2016

After days of flames, massive wildfires are continuing to torch neighborhoods in the Fort McMurray area of Alberta, Canada, sending families fleeing. It's "like an apocalyptic horror," one evacuee said.

The fires have covered more than 249,500 acres -- more than 10 times the area of Manhattan -- and officials fear the blaze could double in size by Saturday evening.

The fires have forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate and the Alberta provincial government has declared a state of emergency.

Premier Rachel Notley, the leader of Alberta's government, said Friday the damage in the city of Fort McMurray is "extensive" and will take "many months" to repair.

The government will spend $77.44 million in U.S. dollars to assist those displaced and affected.

No deaths or injuries were reported.

Effects of the fire can even be seen from the United States; smoke carried by the jet stream covered the Minneapolis sky Saturday morning.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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