The “Beast,” Canadian wildfires that are larger in land mass than New York City, has forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray in the oil-rich sand reserves of northeast Alberta and is now reaching toward the province of Saskatchewan as it burns vast acres of forest.
The oil-sand reserves are one of Canada’s major energy sources and provides jobs for most Fort McMurray families.
Fort McMurry residents flee wildfires
Most Fort McMurray residents have fled south to Edmonton, Alberta’s provincial capital, where the Canadian National Baptist Convention began meeting evacuee’s needs with care kits loaded with basic essentials.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) is on standby to mobilize shower and laundry trailers to the work camps where first responders are staying. SBDR and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association are each ready to provide chaplains for ministry to affected families and first responders.
Fort McMurray homeowners may have to wait up to two months before they can return to assess their property damage.
Pray for the displaced families of Fort McMurray and the first responders who continue to battle “The Beast.”
The article above is a simple summary of these news articles:
Fox News: Canada evacuating 8,000 wildfire evacuees by air
BBC: Canada wildfire: Images show Fort McMurray devastation
The Guardian: Canada wildfire could double in size as mass evacuations continue
BGEA: Crisis-Trained Chaplains Responding to Massive Wildfires in Canada
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief: Canada’s ‘Beast’ wildfire launches DR crew
