Raging wildfires prompt evacuations and memories of past infernos in Fort McMurray

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, over 130 wildfires are ravaging parts of Canada, with 40 raging uncontrollably. Among these is a fire in Fort McMurray, the site of the country's largest fire to date in 2016.

Wildfires have scorched roughly 210 square kilometres of forests near Fort McMurray in Alberta. On Tuesday, 14 May, local authorities declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of about 6,600 people. The fear is palpable among residents who recall the devastating effects of Canada's largest-ever forest fire just eight years prior.

According to Global News TV, the fire is spreading alarmingly. By 9 PM GMT on the same day, it was reported that approximately 110 square kilometres of forest were aflame, a number that nearly doubled to around 210 square kilometres within just three hours.

Roads leading south were jammed with traffic. Residents who could not evacuate headed to collection points, where coaches ferried them to safety.

Fort McMurray, situated in northeastern Alberta, was the epicentre of the largest forest fire in Canadian history. Early May 2016 saw roughly 88,000 people evacuated from the city and its environs. The fire razed about one-fifth of the city's buildings to the ground.

The wildfire season in Canada is getting off to an alarming start. While it hasn’t yet surpassed last year's record-breaking figures, firefighters are warning that this year could be just as bad.