Fort McMurray is the largest community in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. A 2015 municipal census pegged the population of the region at about 125,000. The urban centre of Fort McMurray had just over 61,000 people, according to the 2011 federal census.
Fort McMurray is best known now as a hub for the oilsands industry, which is the top employer in the region. The industry has been hit hard by the downturn in the energy sector.
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Trees burn near a road in Fort McMurray, Alberta on Tuesday May 3, 2016 in this image provide by radio station CAOS91.1. At least half of the city of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta was under an evacuation notice Tuesday as a wildfire whipped by winds engulfed homes and sent ash raining down on residents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CAOS91.1(KAOS)
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Fort McMurray wildfire at Highway 63 Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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Highway 63 at Confederation Way facing west Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at around 5 p.m. MT.
Credit, Alberta government traffic camera
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Fire consumes an RV park in Fort McMurray, AB.
Jame Babcock
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CJ Varney posted this picture of the Fort McMurray fire approaching the Shell gas station 3:35PM May 3.
CJ Varney / Twitter
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Peter Fortna says that as of 3:30PM on May 3 the Fort McMurray fire is meters from the Waterways overpass.
Peter Fortna / Twitter
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Trevor Norris (@TNorrisYEG on Twitter) posted this photo from Fort McMurray on May 3, 2016 at 3:30PM. Norris says that traffic isn't moving at all.
Trevor Norris / Twitter
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Cody McNernie (@CodyMcNernie on Twitter) posted this photo from Fort McMurray on May 3, 2016 at 3:15PM.
Cody McNernie / Twitter
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A wildfire in Fort McMurray intensified Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Reid Fiest, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire flares up Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Fletcher Kent, Global News
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The Fort McMurray wildfire flared up just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016, leading to more voluntary evacuation notices being issued.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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The Fort McMurray wildfire flared up just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016, leading to more voluntary evacuation notices being issued.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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The Fort McMurray wildfire flared up just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016, leading to more voluntary evacuation notices being issued.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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The Fort McMurray wildfire flared up just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016, leading to more voluntary evacuation notices being issued.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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The fire in Fort McMurray early Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2016.
Dean Twardzik, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire from the Prairie Creek Trailer Park Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Cam Cook, Global News
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Fort McMurray wildfire from the Prairie Creek Trailer Park Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
Cam Cook, Global News