The National Post reports in its Friday edition that a major air-evacuation effort continues north of Fort McMurray, as the raging fire in the area continues to grow, eliminating the escape route for almost 25,000 people. The Post's Geoffrey Morgan writes that at the same time, multiple companies with private airstrips in the area have offered their runways for the evacuation effort and firefighting. The private airstrips, built during the oil sands boom, have provided emergency crews with fuel, an ability to land short distances from the blaze, and rooms for responders. Canadian Natural Resources says it has evacuated 1,400 of its staff and 1,200 other people by air from its mining project and aerodrome north of Fort McMurray. Canadian Natural and other companies also have in-house fire crews, which have been sent to fight the fire in the city. Canadian Natural president Steve Laut says, "We have offered the support of our aerodrome to officials for firefighting efforts, and a portion of our firefighters and equipment are in the city, helping to fight fires." Wednesday, 25 flights left Shell Canada's airstrip, ferrying people to Edmonton and Calgary, and from the nearby Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.