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Fort McMurray wildfire - by the numbers

As the Fort McMurray wildfire grows, so do the numbers associated with combatting its flames. CBC created a roundup of numbers provided by provincial and fire officials, as of May 7.
Zoe Todd · CBC News ·
Footprint of Fort McMurray fire on Saturday, May 7. (CBC News)

As the Fort McMurray wildfire continues to grow, so do the numbers associated with combatting its flames.

Hundreds of firefighters deployed, requiring dozens of air tankers, fire engines and helicopters. 

A helicopter flies past a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Wednesday, May 4. (Jason Franson/CP)

Thousands of evacuees are clogging Highway 63 as they inch south away from the fire. Thousands more are already in temporary lodgings throughout Alberta.

Millions of dollars in donations have flooded in from across the country.

Below is a roundup of numbers provided by provincial and fire officials, as of May 7.

Wildfire size and damage

  • 1,600 structures burned in Fort McMurray
  • 12 structures burned in Anzac
  • up to $9 billion estimated cost to insurers, according to a Bank of Montreal analyst
  • Two fatalities during evacuations

Growth of Fort McMurray wildfire May 6-8
Friday, May 6 Saturday, May 7 Sunday, May 8 
1,000 square kilometres 1,560 square kilometres 1,610 square kilometres

Resources deployed

Equipment

Equipment includes heavy helicopters with 3,700-litre capacities, capable of dumping 75,700 litres of water in an hour.

  • 15 helicopters
  • 4 heavy lift helicopters
  • 88 fire engines
  • 44 pieces of heavy equipment
  • 27 air tankers available
  • Four air tankers from Quebec, and one from the Northwest Territories

Firefighters

Wildfire fighters usually deploy for 14 days at a time. Deployments to Fort McMurray have been shortened due to extreme fire conditions, according to Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee.

Firefighters prepare to be deployed into the Fort McMurray wildfire as they receive orders near Fort McMurray on Saturday. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)
  • 500 firefighters in Fort McMurray
  • 66 firefighters in Anzac
  • 82 wildfire fighters from Ontario
  • 22 wildfire experts from Manitoba
  • 40 additional wildfire fighters expected from Quebec on May 10, and 20 more expected from New Brunswick on May 11

A line of cars travels south of Highway 63, as part of a massive convoy organized by RCMP. (CBC)

Evacuations

More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, which is under a mandatory evacuation order.

About 25,000 people fled north, becoming trapped when Highway 63 shut down. On May 7, as smoke thickened and the highway reopened, more than 7,000 drove south in 2,000 vehicles. Another 12,000 people had already been flown out.

  • More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray​
  • 1,500 employees have been moved from Syncrude sites
  • 300 vulnerable people left Fort McKay in voluntary evacuations
  • 36,381 households registered with Red Cross
  • 5,500 people staying in reception centres
  • $44 million in donations to Red Cross

Contacts

Wood Buffalo RCMP non-emergency line: 780-788-4000

Red Cross registration: 1-888-350-6070

Red Cross donations: 1-800-418-1111

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