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06th May 2016

Thousands airlifted to safety as massive fire continues to cause devastation in Canada

Conor Heneghan

The fire has been raging in the city of Fort McMurray since Sunday.

As many as 8,000 people have been airlifted to safety as a fire continues to cause devastation in the state of Alberta, Canada.

Thousands of people who had travelled north of the city of Fort McMurray, where the fire originated, have been airlifted to safety following the evacuation of the entire city earlier this week.

According to the BBC, the fire now covers an area of approximately 328 square miles and is being battled by hundreds of firefighters, who are using helicopters and air tankers in an effort to quench a blaze that has destroyed thousands of homes in the area.

The spread of the fire is reported to have slowed down and is moving away from Fort McMurray, but thousands of people – approximately 17,000, according to reports – are hoping to move away via a motorway to the south of the city should it be safe to do so on Friday.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said that Fort McMurray is not yet safe for residents to return and won’t be for a number of days.

“Our focus right now is on getting those people south as quickly as possible,” she said.

“I must be very, very direct about this – it is apparent that the damage to the community of Fort McMurray is extensive and the city is not safe for residents.”

Asked about when it will be safe to return, she said: “Unfortunately, we do know that it will not be a matter of days.”

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