Anzac, Canada evacuated over raging fire

  • 05/05/2016
A sign for an evacuation centre set up in Anzac, Canada (Reuters)
A sign for an evacuation centre set up in Anzac, Canada (Reuters)

The massive wildfire currently raging in Alberta, Canada has caused the evacuation of several areas -- including one hamlet with a strong Kiwi connection.

Anzac is approximately 36km southeast of Fort McMurray and was named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who surveyed the area during World War I for construction of a rail line.

A state of emergency has been declared in the area as the wildfires wipe out entire neighbourhoods.

All Fort McMurray's 88,000 people have been forced to evacuate, along with Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation communities.

The permanent population of Anzac is a little over 600.

Newshub.