* Fort McMurray in flames after fire breaches city limits
* Authorities issue evacuation order for 80,000
* Suncor cuts output to allow staff to get to safety
(Updates with no casualties reported, details on weather, at
least one baby born during evacuation)
By Nia Williams
CALGARY, Alberta, May 4 (Reuters) - Fire raged unchecked
through the Canadian city of Fort McMurray overnight as
authorities raced to complete the evacuation of its population
of 80,000, fearful that hot, dry winds forecast for Wednesday
would further fan the flames.
About 44,000 people were estimated to have fled the city by
late on Tuesday on traffic-chocked roads, and the province of
Alberta requested military help to bring the blaze under control
and airlift others from fire- and smoke-filled streets.
"I'm afraid that huge parts of my home town... may burn
tonight and will continue to burn," Brian Jean, leader of
Alberta's official opposition party, told CBC Radio, saying his
own home was in the immediate path of the flames.
The fire in the heart of Canada's oil sands region broke out
southwest of the city on Sunday, shifting aggressively with the
wind to breach city limits on Tuesday, when its size was
estimated at 26.5 square kilometres (6,540 acres).
It destroyed one residential neighbourhood in the southeast,
and others were severely damaged or under threat, Chief Darby
Allen of Fort McMurray's fire department said.
The blaze also temporarily closed off the main southern exit
from the city, Highway 93, prompting many residents to flee
north towards the oil sands camps.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley described the evacuation as
the biggest in the province's history.
Officials said army and air force assistance would take two
days to arrive, and they expected to face another day of
battling the flames on Wednesday, when relatively low humidity,
hot temperatures and high winds were in the forecast.
"We may, to some extent, still be in fire extinguishment
mode," Fire Chief Allen told a news conference on Tuesday night.
"I think, based on the conditions ... we're going to face a day
that's fairly similar to today."
Nine air tankers, more than a dozen helicopters and about
150 firefighters were deployed to combat the flames, officials
said.
Suncor Energy SU.TO , whose oil sands operations are
closest to the city, said its main plant 25 km (16 miles) to the
north was safe, but it was reducing crude production in the
region to allow employees and families to get to safety.
ONE BIRTH, NO CASUALTIES
Officials said around 8,000 evacuees had reached a reception
centre outside Fort McMurray, while Premier Notley told
reporters that authorities were working to set up more emergency
accommodation.
No casualties had been reported, the Regional Municipality
of Wood Buffalo said early on Wednesday on Twitter, and its
mayor Melissa Blake said at least one baby was born at a lodging
for energy workers being used as an evacuation site.
"My thoughts are with people affected by the fire in Fort
McMurray tonight," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on
Tuesday. "Stay safe and remember to follow evacuation orders."
Suncor said evacuees were welcome at its Firebag oil sands
facility, while Canadian Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO said it
was working to ensure any affected CNRL workers and their
families could use its camps.
Shell Canada RDSa.L said it would open its oil sands camp
to evacuees and was looking to use its airstrip to fly out
non-essential staff and accommodate displaced residents.
Representatives of Syncrude, CNOOC 0883.HK subsidiary
Nexen Energy and pipeline company Enbridge all said their
operations were unaffected.
A number of flights from Fort McMurray airport were
cancelled on Tuesday.
The fire is the second major one in the oil sands region in
less than a year. Last May, wildfires led to the evacuation of
hundreds of workers, and a 9 percent cut in Alberta's oil sands
output as Cenovus Energy CVE.TO and Canadian Natural Resources
Ltd called shutdowns at some of their projects.
Alberta could be in for long and expensive wildfire season
this year as it is much drier than normal after a mild winter
with lower-than-average snowfall and a warm spring.
Fort McMurray is located about 430 km northeast of Alberta's
capital, Edmonton. Most oil sands facilities are to the north
and east of the city.