It’s now around 13 kilometers away from the Saskatchewan border.
Advertisement
“I think it’s a good thing he’s coming”, said Fort McMurray housekeeper Maureen Pearce at a supply centre for evacuees in Lac La Biche, Alberta. Many crews are still doucing hot spots and inspectors are now assessing the damage. They’ve worked tirelessly to save their neighbours homes sometimes, tragically, while their own homes were being lost.
The checkpoint is still set up several kilometres from Fort McMurray where about one-tenth of the city’s structures were destroyed by wildfire.
Larivee said the military was pulling out but Brig.
Notley did tell reporters that government officials have already been contacting residents who operate businesses like gas stations and grocery stores to begin the conversation about having them return home to begin preperations for the residents to return.
Canadian Red Cross chief executive Conrad Sauve has said that each adult will receive USD 600 Canadian (USD 467) and each child will get USD 300 Canadian (USD 234) in what he called the most important and fastest direct cash transfer in the organization’s history.
The prime minister said $86 million was donated to the Red Cross in 11 days – and with the federal government matching individual donations, the figure would be much higher. The 417-member community has housed or helped close to 5,000 people and is taking food, clothing, towels, items for infants, feminine products and other items for drop-off at Fort McKay Logistics in Edmonton – 5744 – 67th Avenue, for transport.
Their work over more than a week in extreme conditions prevented the total destruction of the city by the fire, which is still active and out of control but located far from populated areas.
“That being said, we are long from over in this fight”.
Wood Buffalo fire Chief Darby Allen presented Trudeau with a Fort McMurray fire jacket and said his visit would help encourage emergency workers.
The fire continues to grow outside Fort McMurray in Alberta’s vast boreal forest and now is about 884 square miles (2,090 square kilometers) in size. That includes areas already burned and now burning. “They’re safe, they’re alive, they’re being sheltered by friends, family, and kind strangers right across the country”.
Advertisement
Four pets died in the fire, he said, and two people were killed in a auto crash during the evacuation.
