The mayor of a west-central Alberta town said it was emotional to return home nearly two weeks after an out-of-control wildfire forced residents to flee, but thousands elsewhere remain on edge as scores of fires continue to rage across much of the Prairie provinces and British Columbia.
害羞草研究所淛ust happy to be home and happy to be supporting one another and just pulling together like we always do,害羞草研究所� Drayton Valley Mayor Nancy Dodds said at a news conference Wednesday.
Fire officials pointed to areas around the community, 145 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, showing how close the flames crept.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a huge relief, and we害羞草研究所檙e just so thankful that our home is still standing and that everyone is OK,害羞草研究所� said Jade Verheul, who had to quickly leave with her children on May 4.
Verheul said she was lucky to have a place to go because her parents have an RV lot in Seba Beach, west of Edmonton.
She knows, however, that not all her neighbours have a home to go back to.
Officials said five homes were destroyed by the blaze. A firefighter was also injured by a falling tree.
Fire Chief Tom Thomson said the fire is still burning, but the risk has significantly lessened. He said people should still take precautions.
害羞草研究所淭here are still extremely hazardous areas out in the county area, we call it the burn area or the black area, there are concerns about falling trees, there are concerns about ash pits,害羞草研究所� he said.
More than 19,500 people in Alberta had been forced from their homes as of Tuesday evening. Ninety-one active wildfires were burning in the province, with 28 listed as out of control as of Wednesday afternoon.
There are about 2,500 people battling wildfires in Alberta, including hundreds of soldiers.
Reservists trudged through smouldering trees near Drayton Valley on Tuesday before officials partially lifted an evacuation order. Dressed in yellow jumpsuits with bright blue safety helmets, they walked through trees, some of which were reduced to matchsticks.
It害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渟till a very significant and dangerous situation害羞草研究所� in Alberta, Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said in Ottawa Wednesday.
Blair said the federal government is working with its provincial counterparts and the Canadian Armed Forces to make sure resources are available, but the growing number of fires is a challenge.
There were also 27 active wildfires in Saskatchewan as of late Tuesday.
Buckley Belanger, a former long-serving legislature member in northern Saskatchewan, left Ile-a-la-Crosse after a mandatory evacuation was ordered for the village Tuesday. Ile-a-la-Crosse is on a peninsula and a single road connects it to the main highway.
Belanger said the wildfire travelled within 12 kilometres of the community and crossed the highway. He said the blaze is moving through the tops of trees and shooting pine cones like 害羞草研究所渧essels of fire.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he wind is helping push it in the direction of Ile-a-la-Crosse and we are hoping either rain comes or the wind shifts,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut we are clearly in its path. That害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 better to get people out of harm害羞草研究所檚 way.害羞草研究所�
People were also forced to flee nearby Buffalo Narrows this week. Belanger said more than 30 cabins were likely destroyed. The loss is devastating, he said, as the buildings hold a rich family and trapline history.
害羞草研究所淲e see all that burned to the ground, nothing left but ashes,害羞草研究所� Belanger said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 real, real heartbreaking.害羞草研究所�
Meanwhile, the City of Fort St. John in northeastern British Columbia has rescinded its evacuation alert, as a change in wind direction aided firefighters in preventing two out-of-control wildfires from advancing closer.
An update on the city害羞草研究所檚 website says the alert has been lifted for all properties and its roughly 21,000 residents 害羞草研究所渃an safely resume everyday activities.害羞草研究所�
Air quality warnings, however, remain for the area due to smoke.
In the Northwest Territories, the K害羞草研究所檃tl害羞草研究所檕deeche First Nation and town of Hay River, about 120 kilometres from the Alberta boundary, remain evacuated.
Mike Westwick, a wildfire information officer with the government, said a small amount of scattered showers provided a crucial opening for firefighting teams to tackle the blaze.
害羞草研究所淭his relief will not last as hot dry conditions continue today,害羞草研究所� Westwick said in a news release Wednesday.
害羞草研究所擪elly Geraldine Malone and Angela Amato, The Canadian Press
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