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I just wanted to start a topic about something that I'm sure we have all seen happening in my home province. Last weekend a fire broke out near the Northern Alberta City of Fort McMurray. Provincial trained wildfire firefighters were immediately dispatched to help try to contain the fire. As a precaution, two communities were evacuated. It looked like things were going to be under control and people were beginning to relax. That was when things changed for the worse. In little over 24 hours, all 85,000 people of Fort McMurray were evacuated. Right now there is Wildfire experts fighting the fires in the forest, urban firefighters from around the province fighting fires within the city and RCMP. Basically that is it. More wildfire firefighters and equipment are on the way from across the country and I do believe Australia is dispatching men and equipment as well. The Canadian military has been mobilized as well. Efforts were hampered by the fact that there is only really a two lane paved highway that goes up to Fort McMurray with an alternate gravel road, and the paved highway continues north. Eventually the fire jumped the highway and has made it nearly impossible to drive south. Towns of 2000 people are accommodating up to 8000 extra people who have been evacuated. People are getting out and heading to the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary as well as the smaller cities as well. Universities and Colleges are opening up there recently vacated residents to house evacuees. The province and the country are pulling together to help in whatever way is possible. Today my city's human society is trying to collect nearly 900 animal carriers, with the other major city asking the same. My company has started a nationwide campaign to raise funds for the Red Cross and matching dollar to dollar donations, like many other companies. The Canadian Government will be matching dollar for dollar to the Red Cross donations. This fire will be measured in the amount of billions, as already over 2000 homes have been completely lost. I just want to have a place to come and say that I'm proud of what we all are doing for the people of Fort McMurray, but my heart goes out to all the people who were uprooted in 24 hours and do not know if they have anything left. Yes, I know there is natural disasters all around the world, just surprising that now, close to 90,000 people have been uprooted. If you want anymore information, please check out any major Canadian or International news web page, the pictures will leave you breathless. Edit to add, yes I know I misspelled Fort McMurray, but the forum software doesn't allow two capitals in one word in the title