ATHABASCA — After several days spent in Westlock and Athabasca, residents of four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were able to return to their homes May 18.
A previously out-of-control blaze southwest of Fort McMurray was considered held thanks to cool weather, rain, and the efforts of firefighting crews.
On May 14, approximately 6,600 families and individuals living in the communities of Beacon Hill, Abasand, Prairie Creek, and Grayling Terrace were ordered to evacuate the area as wildfire MWF017 grew to almost 21,000 hectares in size.
The communities of Athabasca and Westlock hosted a number of evacuees waiting out the wildfire in the days following the evacuation orders.
An employee at the Athabasca Super 8 said between 50 to 60 per cent of guests were short-term Fort McMurray evacuees. Many guests booked two nights in the hopes they would be able to return to their homes shortly, head onto a larger evacuation centre, or stay with family or friends elsewhere.
A Days Inn staff member said in addition to their regular guests, the hotel was fully booked after the influx of evacuees May 14. Full parking lots at both hotels are telling, but Days Inn staff said the number of residents holding over in Athabasca this year was less than in 2016.
Josh Arcand of Teen Time Ranch, a youth summer camp 40 kilometres north of Westlock, said he saw familiar faces among the evacuees who stayed at the ranch this time.
“Some of the ones who stayed with us back in 2016 had reached out asking if they could come out and stay again. So we said, 'For sure, come on out,’” said Arcand. “It’s nice that we were able to have them out again.”
Welcome home
“We are so pleased to be able to welcome people home and have them return home, safely, said Sandy Bowman, Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) in a May 18 update.
The RMWB initially directed evacuees to Lac La Biche, but as of the evening of May 14, Lac La Biche accommodations were deemed full and residents were directed to Cold Lake.
“We thank everyone that was evacuated this week for their patience, resolve and strength, and we look forward to seeing all of you,” said Bowman.
An Edmonton evacuation centre located in the northeast community of Clareview saw more than 1,800 evacuees register for food, pet care, and health care before evacuation orders were lifted and residents were permitted to return home.
Two days after the evacuation order, the efforts of crews were assisted by rain. More than 40 millimetres of precipitation have fallen on the fire since May 16, allowing the fire to be held after shrinking to 19,451 hectares. The flames are now 5.5 kilometres away from the Fort McMurrary landfill and 4.5 kilometres from the intersection of highways 63 and 881.
Evacuation orders for the four communities affected were lifted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Evacuation alerts for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation 468, Anzac, and Rickards Landing Industrial Park were also lifted the same day.
To prevent the blaze from moving closer, 25 kilometres of fireguards have been erected between the northern edge of the fire and the city. Forested areas around neighbourhoods impacted by the evacuation orders have been sprayed with fire retardant.
After the evacuation orders were lifted on Saturday, emergency social services remained in place to assist returning residents with re-entry. Both highways 63 and 881 are open with traffic flowing both ways.
RCMP officers patrolled neighbourhoods as those evacuated returned to their homes. An online FAQ site notified residents that water and power services remained in place throughout the evacuation, but taps should be flushed and major appliances checked.
Efforts to control the blaze continue, with heavy equipment operators extending the containment line around the fire and ground crews targeting hotspots. Residents are reminded that a fire ban and OGV restriction remains in place for the urban service area and the Forest Protection area.
Authorities ask residents not to travel into the forest near the blaze nor fly drones in the area as crews continue working.
Evacuees in need of financial support following the fire are encouraged to contact the Provincial Income Support Emergency Contact Centre at 1-866-644-5135, and mental health supports and resources can be accessed by calling the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642, or Health Link at 811. Additional resources can be found at https://www.rmwb.ca/en/fire-and-emergency-services/alerts.aspx#May-18-1030-a-m-Evacuation-orders-lifted-in-Fort-McMurray.
