FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Downtown Fort McMurray is under an ********** notice as a wildfire whipped by winds is engulfing homes on the outskirts of the northern Alberta community.

The Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo says people should leave immediately and head for a lodge about 20 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

Pictures posted on Twitter show long lines of traffic and skies darkened by thick ***** as flames lick the edges of roads.

Several flight at Fort McMurray International Airport have been ******* or cancelled, but the airport remains open. Flightaware.com is showing 33% of arriving flights cancelled.

**********’s website says “flights may be impacted due forest fires and ********** of Fort McMurray. ********** and ********** Express advise that flights to, from or connecting through the airport(s) listed may be ******* or cancelled due to the event described.”

Fort McMurray International airport is open. Please check directly with your ******* for updates to your flight status.

— FortMcMurray Airport (@FlyYMM) May 3, 2016

What it looked like today at Fort McMurray International Airport as the **** and ***** approached. #ymmfire pic.twitter.com/uKNT5wkoZj

— BuzzFeed Canada (@BuzzFeedCanada) May 4, 2016