Islanders' Fort McMurray wildfire stories harrowing
'People are mad. They are driving the wrong way. They are cutting people off. There are cars in ditches'
More Islanders are telling harrowing stories about escaping the wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Kellylee Dennis is originally from the Tyne Valley area and said her family got separated in the evacuation, traveling in separate vehicles.
She said she knows where they all are now and is relieved they are safe.
Dennis said when they first left Fort McMurray they went north towards the oil camps, but were turned away at a couple of sites. That's when the decision was made to head south instead.
"You have no idea. It's like a movie," she said. "You are bumper to bumper. People are mad. They are driving the wrong way. They are cutting people off. There are cars in ditches. It's so surreal."
Dennis said the family managed to book into a motel in St. Albert for two nights, but doesn't know where they will go after that. She said they just bought a house in September and know a fire truck was on the street, but can't say if the house was damaged.
Dakota Barbour, from Alma in western P.E.I., works at the oil camps and was asked to help truck water into the fire area.
"You look to the left, there is just flames and trees that were on fire," he said. "And then you look to the right, and you see all these houses with a fence along the side and you are just like 'geez, we gotta help.'"
Barbour said he lost his home to a fire when he was growing up, and that has motivated him to work extra long hours to help.
"Do what we can. I wish we could do more, but there is only so much."
With files from Stephanie Kelly and Angela Walker