FORT MCMURRAY — A Fort McMurray firefighter says many of the city's crew members have lost their own homes in a wildfire that has destroyed part of the Alberta oilsands capital.
Nick Waddington, who is also president of the Fort McMurray firefighters union, says he hasn't confirmed the number yet, but it's in the range of two dozen.
He says one firefighter watched his home burn while he was standing at the end of his driveway, then put in another 18 hours of work trying to save other houses.
About 80,000 residents fled the city following a mandatory evacuation order last Tuesday.
Officials have estimated at least 1,600 homes burned and that number is expected to be updated today.
Waddington says exhausted city firefighters are getting time off this week to reunite with their families.