Edmonton, May 6 (RHC)-- Thousands of people have been airlifted from camps in the Fort McMurray area in Canada’s Alberta Province as a massive wildfire rages nearby.  Officials airlifted some 8,000 people from work camps north of the area on Thursday and are continuing the airlift on Friday.

Officials are also trying to move some 17,000 people who are in the potential pathway of the fire through the only motorway to the south.

Canada’s Alberta Province declared a state of emergency over the wildfire on Wednesday.  The provincial government said that some 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers were involved in fighting the fire in Fort McMurray.

Alberta’s manager of wildfire prevention, Chad Morrison, has, however, said that only rain can stop the fire.