The premier of Alberta said that Canada's oil sands city has been largely saved and that a plan will be put together within two weeks so that most of the 88,000 evacuees can return home. At least two neighborhoods in Fort McMurray were completely devastated with incinerated homes leveled by a wildfire that the city's fire chief called a "beast ... a fire like I've never seen in my life." Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told reporters that roughly 2,400 homes and buildings were destroyed, but firefighters managed to save 25,000 others, including the hospital, municipal buildings, and every functioning school. "This city was surrounded by an ocean of fire only a few days ago but Fort McMurray and the surrounding communities have been saved and they will be rebuilt," Notley said. The premier said that the fire continues to grow outside the city and now is roughly 2,020 square kilometers in size.
