Hillcrest woman escapes Canada fire

Smoke rises above the treeline as the wildfire burns in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Picture: Jason Franson, The Canadian Press, via AP

Smoke rises above the treeline as the wildfire burns in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Picture: Jason Franson, The Canadian Press, via AP

Published May 5, 2016

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Durban - A Hillcrest woman is among 88 000 people who have been evacuated from Fort McMurray after a wildfire spread through the Canadian city on Wednesday.

Andreas Mathios, of Hillcrest, told the Daily News on Thursday morning that when he learnt of the fire he tried to get hold of his daughter who lives there.

He made several frantic phone calls to her last night, but she did not answer.

Mathios's daughter, Tessa Hahn, 30, her husband Graham Hahn and their two girls Rachel, 4, and 6-month-old Amelia were busy evacuating their home at the time.

Eventually he contacted her through a friend. “I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard she was in good health… Tessa told me that the fire, coupled with strong winds, just spread.

“The whole town resembled a ghost town, something they observed while driving out… They were heading to a family member in Edmonton. Although I have not seen them in 10 years we chat regularly via Skype and WhatsApp.”

According to BBC News a state of emergency has been declared in the province of Alberta in Canada.

Officials say the fast-moving blaze could destroy much of the city. The fire, which broke out on Sunday in the heart of the country’s oil sands region, has gutted 1 600 buildings.

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