2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's history, with upwards of 88,000 people forced from their homes. Firefighters were assisted by personnel from both the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as other Canadian provincial agencies, to fight the wildfire. Aid for evacuees was provided by various governments and via donations through the Canadian Red Cross and other local and national charitable organizations.
| 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire Horse River Fire | |
|---|---|
Fort McMurray residents evacuating along Highway 63 as the fire encroaches on the area | |
| Date(s) | May 1, 2016 – August 2, 2017 Evacuation: May 3 – June 1, 2016 Provincial state of emergency: May 4 – July 1, 2016 |
| Location | Wood Buffalo, Alberta Northern Saskatchewan Canada |
| Coordinates | 56°39′55″N 111°23′00″W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 589,552 ha (1,456,810 acres) |
| Land use | Boreal forest, Residential, Oil Sands |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 0 (direct) 2 (indirect) |
| Non-fatal injuries | 0 |
| Structures destroyed | 3,244 |
| Damage | $9.9 billion (direct and indirect costs) |
| Map | |
Location in Alberta | |
Sweeping through Fort McMurray, the wildfire destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and buildings. Another 2,000 residents in three communities were displaced after their homes were declared unsafe for reoccupation due to contamination. The fire continued to spread across northern Alberta and into Saskatchewan, consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. With an estimated damage cost of C$9.9 billion, it was the costliest disaster in Canadian history.
The fire spread across approximately 590,000 ha (1,500,000 acres) before it was declared to be under control on July 5, 2016. It continued to smoulder, and was fully extinguished on August 2, 2017. It is suspected to have been caused by humans in a remote area 15 km (9.3 mi) from Fort McMurray, but no official cause has been determined to date.