If anyone can empathize with wildfire evacuees, it’s Alberta. We all remember the Slave Lake fire of 2011 and the Fort McMurray fire of 2016.
This year, we have seen 973 wildfires that have burned more than 1.7 million hectares. These blazes have displaced families and destroyed homes.
But through all the smoke, one thing is clear. Albertans know how to pull together and push forward. As wildfires in the Northwest Territories creep towards Yellowknife, Alberta hopes to help evacuees do the same.
According to the Government of Northwest Territories, 236 active wildfires have burned well over two million hectares of land in our northern neighbour.
These wildfires have forced most of the Northwest Territories 45,000 residents to flee, including Yellowknife’s 22,000 residents. But Albertans have wasted no time opening their doors to evacuees.
“We understand all too well how challenging and stressful it is to be evacuated from their homes due to wildfires, which is why we’re stepping up to help,” said Premier Danielle Smith.
If Yellowknife evacuees cannot find accommodations on their own, they can find support at registration centres in Calgary, Fox Creek, Lac La Biche, Red Deer, Valleyview, Whitecourt, and Edmonton.
Communities across the province are offering support to Yellowknifers. This includes Calgary, Fox Creek, Lac La Biche, Red Deer, Valleyview, Whitecourt, Mackenzie County, Leduc and Edmonton.
Red Deer is assisting with lodgings, meals, pet care, and medical.
Steen River, Alberta, also has a refuelling station with water and washroom facilities.
The province has also set up roadside support for evacuees fleeing on the highway. This includes tow trucks, heavy-duty mechanics, tire repair services, and pilot vehicles. The stretch will also be patrolled to provide aid for stranded motorists.
Evacuees can camp for free in Alberta Parks by registering at the registration centres. Evacuees can stay at their campsite for up to 10 consecutive nights.
Calgary has set up two evacuation centres in the city. One is located at the airport for evacuees arriving via plane. The other is at the Westin Calgary Airport to assist those evacuating in their cars.
According to Calgary’s emergency management and community safety director, Iain Bushell, the city is prepared to welcome 5,000 evacuees.
Alberta Health Services has set up continuing-care spaces for 45 Northwest Territories residents across the province. These spaces are used to provide care to people outside of the hospital.
Edmonton said it will open an evacuation centre today but has yet to specify how many evacuees it can support.
Wildfires in Alberta and the Northwest Territories are just the tip of the iceberg. As the climate continues to warm, we can expect more intense wildfires that are harder to contain.
In addition to wildfires, we can expect more extreme weather events like flooding, hail, droughts, and heat waves.
