Wildfires Force Tens of Thousands to Evacuate Canada Oil Sands Town

Canada Wildfires Continue As State of Emergency Declared (ABC News)

Tens of thousands of people in the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, were ordered to evacuate as wildfires engulfed homes and sent plumes of smoke into the air, making it the largest evacuation in the city's history.

There were no deaths or serious injuries reported but more than 80,000 residents were ordered to leave Tuesday after an earlier order that had applied to almost 30,000 people -- mostly on the city's south side -- was extended to thousands more as flames continued to make their way into the city, according to CTV Television.

Officials said residents had little notice to flee as the wildfires were made worst by harsh winds on a day of already high temperatures in a short amount of time.

Fire Chief Darby Allen of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo said homes were still on fire as he spoke with reporters during a news conference Tuesday evening.

"We've had a devastating day," Allen said.

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Temperatures hit a record high Tuesday in Fort McMurray at 90.6 degrees, exceeding that day's record of 82 degrees set back in 1945, according to the Canadian Weather Service.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said rescue crews were doing all they could to ensure everyone's safety and said they were looking into the possibility of airlifting residents with medical issues.

Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, also offered government support in the rescue efforts.

Roads to oil sand camps in the north were clogged with traffic after fires blocked the only road out of the city, according to CBC News.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. warned that a cold front would push high winds into the area today, potentially fueling the spread of the 6,400-acre fire.

Fort McMurray is the capital of Alberta's oil sands region and has a population of 61,000, according to the 2011 census. The Alberta oil sands are the third-largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.