MONTREAL – Andrew Berkshire has been keeping a close eye on his hometown of Fort McMurray, worried about the wildfires ravishing the neighbourhoods.
He thought things were under control as he watched the updates Tuesday morning, but then he got a panicked call from his father.
“He informed me the entire city was to be evacuated, it was total chaos. They were in traffic for eight hours just to get out,” said a visibly shaken Berkshire.
The majority of his family, including his parents and brothers, had to evacuate their homes in a frantic rush as the forest fire took a drastic and sudden turn.
READ MORE: ‘It’s like Armageddon here’: Fort McMurray resident who stayed in town during fire describes city
Berkshire only realized how close the flames had gotten to his childhood home when his father sent him a video showing the flames only two kilometres from his front door.
He admitted it has been hard to not think the worst.
“I’m thinking ‘will the house I grew up in be there the next time I go back and visit?'” he said.
Berkshire said he has felt completely helpless, monitoring it all from Montreal.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Alberta government declares provincial state of emergency
For now, the best he can do is keep in constant contact with his family.
The cellular connection has been spotty, but after a few attempts, he finally got through to his brother who described a harrowing few hours on the highway.
“It’s pretty chaotic and non-stop trying to get through,” said Matt Berkshire from outside Fort McMurray.
“It probably turned a one-hour drive-time out of town into a seven- or eight-hour drive.”
There is only one road in and out of Fort McMurray, and there are a limited number of gas stations.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Albertans offering food, shelter to residents fleeing fire
“He had to stop and get gas,” Berkshire said while describing his brother’s drive out of the town.
“There were fights at the gas station, gas stations were running out of fuel.”
His family has now found refuge in Edmonton, hoping they’ll soon be able to return home.
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