Athabasca opened its doors to people from Fort McMurray last night, after a wildfire engulfed parts of the city yesterday and put its 60,000 residents under a mandatory evacuation order.
Athabasca opened its doors to people from Fort McMurray last night, after a wildfire engulfed parts of the city yesterday and put its 60,000 residents under a mandatory evacuation order.
As Athabasca ’s hotels packed to the brim - the Super 8, Athabasca Inn and Days Inn all said they had no vacancy - the Agriplex opened to people looking for a place to spend the night.
Dee Lambert, an organizer at the Agriplex, said she decided to open the facility ’s doors because of what she was seeing on social media.
“People didn ’t know where to go, ” she said. “Lac La Biche was the command centre, but lots of people didn ’t know or missed the turn or whatever and so we said, why not? The building is empty, let ’s do it. If we help one, great. If we help 10, great. ”
She especially wanted to give refuge to people travelling with animals, from the largest horse to the smallest cat. As of about midnight, there were more than a dozen people at the Agriplex. ;
“Some have come in OK. Some have come in upset, ” Lambert said. “It ’s just a place to rest. ” ;
Micha Isaac landed at the Agriplex with her boyfriend Vince Nahdee, their two dogs, and some of her extended family.
“We left around 7 - ;we evacuated to Mac Island first, ” Isaac said. “We hung out there for a bit, and then as soon as we heard the highway was open we took a chance. ”
Coming from downtown Fort McMurray, she said there was a lot of smoke and “chaos. ”
Isaac appreciated having a place to rest with her pooches, but was unsure of her next move.
“We ’re kinda playing it by ear right now, ” she said.
Isaac ’s aunt, Nancy Colwell, had one thought in mind.
“I hope we have houses to come back to, ” Colwell said.
Wood Buffalo ’s acting executive director of community and policing services Dale Benfield said at a press conference last night, that they were working with emergency centres in Lac La Biche and Edmonton to get people to safety.
“Our primary concern is getting everybody out of the danger zone and into safe zones, ” he said.
He also said fuel was an issue, and that there was no gas in Fort McMurray, Grassland or Wandering River.
“And it is being basically drained as we go south, ” he said.
Athabasca County ’s Balon Katona said as of midnight last night, the county had not received an official order to open an emergency centre in Athabasca.
Wood Buffalo regional fire chief and director of emergency management Darby Allen said at last night ’s press conference that fires were still going as of 10:30 p.m.
“It ’s a sad day for everyone in McMurray, ” he said. “We ’ve had a devastating day, and our hearts and prayers go out to people. ”
Fire ban and school cancellation
Yesterday afternoon, Athabasca County issued a fire ban.
"Due to the continued warm and dry weather conditions, the current fire restriction prohibits all open fires, including campfires, burn barrels, charcoal briquettes, fireworks and tiki torches," a county release states. "All existing fire permits are suspended at this time and no new permits will be issued until fire conditions improve."
The Northern Lights School Division issued a press release late last night cancelling classes in Lac La Biche, Wandering River and Plamondon for today, May 4.
"We recognize that there are a large number of vehicles passing through or staying in these towns," the release states. "Buses will not be running in order to reduce congestion on local highways and allow emergency personnel to work uninterrupted."
Court proceedings out of Fort McMurray Courthouse have also been cancelled for May 4, with updates to come.
