Alberta village of 600 makes big offer to Fort McMurray fire evacuees

Support continues to pour in from across the province as Albertans from all corners offer up temporary accommodations to evacuees escaping the Fort McMurray fire, including one very small community in the south central part of the province.

The village of Carbon is nestled in a valley, about 45 minutes northeast of Calgary, with a small but dedicated population of between 500 and 600 residents.

Coun. Heather Boyd says earlier this week, Carbon residents started to rally together to gather donations for evacuees

That sparked an idea to do something on a bigger scale.

Boyd says the village is now offering up its 50 campsites to displaced Fort McMurray residents.

At no charge.

"Our sites are booked every weekend but we can accommodate lots of people and if we need to move them … we have space," Boyd explains.

"There's nothing but land here and there's nothing but people who want to help."

She says the showers are piping hot and free.

"We'd just like to share our community with anyone who needs it."

What if people don't have a trailer?

Boyd says no problem, one can be arranged by willing villagers.

Even a home if need be.

Mayor Guss Nash says many who live in the area are in the oil and gas industry or have ties up north.

"Oh man, this is just so heartbreaking," Nash said.

"Good grief you know, people are suffering now and then all of a sudden to lose everything else, so that's just too hard. If we can help, all the better."

Nash says the offer will remain open until at least, the end of the season.