The fire in Fort McMurray has hit at least one of the oil camps north of the city after the province ordered new mandatory evacuations for that region Monday night.
The sky glowed orange from the southwest as thousands of workers from camps outside the town were directed to get on buses and leave.
This photo was taken about 4 km down the road from Noralta Lodge on Monday night. (Supplied )
An official emergency alert said new evacuees from several camps to the north and south of Fort McMurray should take Highway 63 southbound. But CBC News has learned some of the workers were taken a few kilometres north instead.
“It’s so scary and intimidating,” said oil worker B.J. Spears in an interview Monday morning.
RAW: Video of hazy skies as workers evacuate Noralta0:25
He was sent home during the first wave of evacuations, when the province cleared the northern camps of all but non-essential workers during the weekend of May 7. After five days in Ontario, Spears was called back to stay and work out of Noralta Lodge.
He arrived Sunday and worked an overnight shift. When he awoke Monday afternoon, authorities told him it was time to leave.
“You just get on those buses and pray that you’re headed away from the danger,” said Spears.
Spears said he and about 2,000 other workers were sent to a camp further north called McClelland Lake Lodge, near Suncor’s Fort Hills site. They were told Tuesday will be a day when they “stay in their rooms” and wait for news.
Another photo of Blacksand Executive Lodge, taken Tuesday morning. (Supplied)
But he and many of his colleagues wonder why they’re staying put.
“I don’t know what they’re waiting for,” Spears said.
As of 10 p.m. Monday night, 19 oil sites and camps north of Fort McMurray were under a mandatory evacuation order, including the Syncrude and Suncor facilities south of Fort MacKay.