A convoy of evacuees began the long drive out of work camps north of the fire-ravaged Fort McMurray area on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, a mass airlift of evacuees was expected to resume, a day after 8,000 people were flown out.

In all, more than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, in the heart of Canada's oil sands, and officials say no deaths or injuries related to the fire have been reported.