Fort McMurray and surrounding communities still aren’t safe from fire despite cooler weather this week, provincial officials said at a news conference Thursday.
Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said she knows it isn’t the news evacuees were hoping for, but said the risk of flare-ups remains too great to allow residents to return home.
“Your safety is very important to us, and your community is not yet safe,” she said.
Larivee said hot spots remain in “close proximity” to Fort McMurray and Anzac, and a wind change could easily cause them to flare up.
Two hot spots flared up on Wednesday near the two communities, and wildfire manager Chad Morrison said there are a number of hot spots in the surrounding vegetation.
Financial assistance continues
It has been more than a week since Fort McMurray in northern Alberta was evacuated due to the wildfire, nicknamed “the beast,” and recovery efforts are in full swing.
On Wednesday, the province began issuing pre-loaded debit cards to evacuees, and the Red Cross announced it would send electronic money transfers to those displaced by the fire.
Larivee said more than 6,000 evacuees received a combined total of around $7 million in funding yesterday. A second debit card distribution centre has been set up at NAIT in Edmonton. Though that centre will not open until 2 p.m., dozens of people have already lined up.
The new cash card centre for Fort McMurray evacuees doesn’t open until 2. Already 50 people in line. #ymm #cbc pic.twitter.com/016Ykb5uMq
“We continue to ask that those who are not in desperate need of funds to wait a few days,” Larivee said. “No eligible evacuee will miss out on this support.”
‘This fight is not over’
Assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces is no longer required in Fort McMurray, Larivee said.
She praised the military personnel for their help with evacuations, providing supplies and assisting in the transport of firefighters and equipment.
Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, the commander of Joint Task Force West, said the Forces will remain on “high readiness” as wildfire season continues.
“We are fully aware that this fight is not over and this could be the beginning of a long, hot summer,” Eyre said.
Fire Chief Darby Allen is expected to give an update later today.