FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — When Jacui Stordock heard that some people fleeing the Fort McMurray wildfire were forced to leave their pets behind, she took action.
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Stordock and some of her friends from Edmonton loaded up two pickups with animal carriers and drove north to help.
They soon had 10 dogs, two cats and five kittens in the trucks and were headed home Friday to take them to the Edmonton Humane Society.
“I know that if I had to leave my guy behind I would have wanted someone to go back and try and get them,” she said during a stop in Wandering River as her colleagues gave water to a howling Malamute and some thirsty St. Bernards.
“We went to as many houses as we could.”
Watch below: Fort McMurray wildfire: 4 horses, 3 dogs, 2 daughters and 1 mom make daring escape
Stordlock said most of the the pets had already been rescued so her group was helping by transporting those back to Edmonton. Others, they found.
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Some evacuees have placed notices on social media about their pets in the hope that someone would care for them.
Blades said they know the owners of most of the pets and at some point their owners will claim them.
Some pet owners are so worried that they have been calling emergency lines asking for help.
RCMP were urging evacuees who are concerned about their pets to not call 911, but said Mounties patrolling Fort McMurray would do what they can for any animals they find.
The Edmonton pet Samaritans fussed over their furry cargo, feeding the dogs treats and calming a nervous cat laying in a plastic laundry basket as she fed her brood of kittens. Keaton Souster was eager to get going so they could let the dogs out of their carriers.
Ariel Blondeau said it was great to help, but she knows that many pets are still in Fort McMurray with no one to look after them.
“I could just never imagine leaving my pet behind, ever,” she said.
“Even though we helped these guys we wish we had more room. We only got into a small area.”
As of Saturday morning, the wildfire had grown to 156,000 hectares in size. Premier Rachel Notley said it was likely the fire would double in size by the end of day Saturday and possibly reach the Saskatchewan border.
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RCMP officers will do what they can to assist pets they may come across in carrying out search and rescue operations.
Courtesy: Alberta RCMP
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Animal rescue workers wait to get entry to Fort McMurray, Alta., on Friday, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks.
Jason Franson, The Canadian Press
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Firefighters battle a wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Credit, Premier Rachel Notley's Twitter account
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Firefighters battle a wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Credit, Premier Rachel Notley's Twitter account
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Firefighters battle a wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Credit, Premier Rachel Notley's Twitter account
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Firefighters battle a wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Credit, Premier Rachel Notley's Twitter account
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A wildfire rages in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Friday, May 6, 2016.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
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Smoke rises from a wildfire 30km south of Fort McMurray, Alberta on highway 63 Friday, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks.
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press
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Thumbs up from evacuee leaving Fort McMurray with the convoy.
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RCMP say goodbye to evacuees leaving Ft McMurray during convoy operations.
Courtesy: Alberta RCMP
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ŖCMP being briefed during convoy operations.
Courtesy: Alberta RCMP
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RCMP and Fire departments work together in response to the Fort McMurray Wildfire.
Courtesy: Alberta RCMP
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RCMP and Fire departments work together in response to the Fort McMurray Wildfire.
Courtesy: Alberta RCMP
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Media watch as smoke billows in the sky near a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Friday, May 6, 2016.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
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Another look at a devastating wildfire as it rips through Fort McMurray. Uploaded to Facebook by a firefighter and EMT with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on May 6, 2016. Date and exact location of photo is unknown.
CREDIT: Facebook/ Troy Palmer
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Another look at a devastating wildfire as it rips through Fort McMurray. Uploaded to Facebook by a firefighter and EMT with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on May 6, 2016. Date and exact location of photo is unknown.
CREDIT: Facebook/ Troy Palmer
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Photos of the devastating wildfire burning through Fort McMurray. Uploaded to Facebook by a firefighter and EMT with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on May 6, 2016. Date and exact location of photo is unknown.
CREDIT: Facebook/ Troy Palmer
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Photos of the devastating wildfire burning through Fort McMurray. Uploaded to Facebook by a firefighter and EMT with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on May 6, 2016. Date and exact location of photo is unknown.
CREDIT: Facebook/ Troy Palmer