Chaos, Tears, as Thousands Flee Slave Lake

Wildfires are still burning around the Alberta town as evacuees struggle to come to terms with the destruction.

Residents of Slave Lake, Alta., described the evacuation of the city due to massive wildfires on Sunday as a chaotic, misinformed mess, with cars driving on sidewalks just to escape the rapidly encroaching flames. A third of Slave Lake was destroyed in the fire, including the town hall, and all of the town's 7,000 residents were forced to flee and are now staying in nearby Athabasca, Edmonton, or anywhere else they can find shelter. Alberta officials confirmed that the evacuation effort was the largest displacement of people in a single day in the province's history. No one has yet been reported killed, while 30 people have been taken to hospital.