Trucking groups scramble for order amid Fort Mac wildfire

by Today's Trucking Staff

FORT McMURRAY, AB – Lorraine Card, executive director of the Alberta Motor Transport Association, says she is beginning to reach out to her membership in Fort McMurray Wednesday to see how the association can help in the face of the worst wildfires Alberta has ever seen.

Diversified Transportation Ltd., Trimac Transportation, and Manitoulin Transport are a few of the fleets Card is checking in on.

“It’s a terrible situation, and we do intend to reach out to our members there this morning,” says Card. “We’ve been following closely on the radio, and our main concern is that people get out safely. We have to work closely with the authorities to see what we can do.”

Wednesday’s forecast isn’t promising for emergency efforts, with high temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds set to stoke the fires.

According to CBC news, the wildfires have so far destroyed 1,600 structures over 20,000 hectares since Tuesday.

Alberta’s Mullen Group, which specializes in oilfield services, said Wednesday that the situation is very “fluid”. CEO Murray Mullen noted that his company’s business “is virtually at a standstill,” as they account for more than 100 employees and owner-operators living and working in the surrounding area of Fort McMurray, where the company has already established a command centre for support. 

“As we understand the situation, some of our people have already lost their homes,” said Mullen. “Everyone else is hopeful that the fires can be contained before any further damage is done in the community. 

Mullen’s plan early Wednesday was to establish contact with the authorities and gain access to some of the company’s yards and facilities. 

“This is clearly a tragedy for a community already feeling the pain of the slowdown in the oil industry,” said Mullen. 

The Alberta government is advising motorists not to travel on Highways 63 or 881 into Fort McMurray, as the heavy smoke and wildfires challenges the city of more than 80,000 residents.

Residents continue to evacuate Fort McMurray using Highway 63 in both directions. Access to Highway 63 at the Highway 881 intersection just south of Fort McMurray was closed as of 4:35 pm local time on Tuesday. 

“Anyone who must be on the highway to support the fire response is asked to use extreme caution due to reduced visibility and high traffic volume as residents evacuate the area,” the government reports.

An estimated 70% of the homes in one neighborhood have already been destroyed by the wildfire. The Beacon Hill suburb in the south end of Wood Buffalo is thought to be the hardest hit so far.

Firefighters are reportedly focusing on maintaining Highway 63 and the one bridge across the Athabasca River. The Canadian military has been called in for support.

Suncor, one of the region’s energy producers, is among those that have curtailed operations today. “Our plant is 25 kilometres north of Fort McMurray and in a safe condition. However, we are reducing production at our regional facilities in order to allow employees and their families to get to safety,” the company reports.

 


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