Lakeland area steps up to aid Ft. Mac Fire Evacuees

Image Source: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

The Lakeland region is once again helping its northern neighbours, as residents from the Wood Buffalo region make their way south to escape a wildfire. Cold Lake Agriplex is the latest evacuation reception centre after hotels in Lac La Biche filled up quickly. The City of Edmonton has also opened its doors to the evacuees. As of Thursday morning, 2133 evacuees registered at an in-person reception centre in Lac La Biche, Cold Lake, and Edmonton.

Cold Lake Agriplex Reception Centre

In a recent interview on Lakeland Connect, Mayor Craig Copeland of Cold Lake discussed the city’s role as an evacuation center for individuals displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfires. Mayor Copeland expressed gratitude for the coordinated efforts of provincial and municipal employees working tirelessly behind the scenes to manage the situation. Cold Lake was announced as the next evacuation center, providing a reception area for evacuees to report to, located at the Agriplex (4608 38 Ave, Cold Lake).

“In this time of crisis, Cold Lake stands ready to support those affected by the Fort McMurray wildfires,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “We are grateful for the coordinated efforts of provincial and municipal employees who work tirelessly behind the scenes to manage the situation.”

“Cold Lake is honored to serve as the next Evacuee Center,” Mayor Copeland continued. “Our city is providing a reception area for evacuees to report to, located at the Agriplex.”

Mayor Copeland highlighted the efficiency of the operation, with staff working until 3 a.m. and approximately 80 people checking in by the following morning, a number that had increased to about a hundred soon after. The city has collaborated with hotels in the community to accommodate evacuees, ensuring competitive rates and addressing concerns such as pet accommodations.

“It’s crucial to provide comfortable accommodations for evacuees,” Mayor Copeland emphasized, reflecting on past experiences. “We’ve learned from previous instances where individuals stayed in communal spaces like the Energy Center. Collaboration with local hotels ensures competitive rates and addresses concerns such as pet accommodations.”

Reflecting on past experiences with evacuations, Mayor Copeland emphasized the importance of providing comfortable accommodations for evacuees, recalling previous instances where individuals had stayed in communal spaces like the Energy Center. He praised the efforts of emergency management teams and the provincial government in managing the crisis effectively.

Regarding the possibility of Cold Lake firefighters being deployed to assist in firefighting efforts, Mayor Copeland stated, “We’re ready to respond if Cold Lake firefighters are called upon to assist in firefighting efforts.” “While they haven’t been called yet, we remain prepared. We’re hopeful for favorable weather conditions to aid firefighting efforts and urge residents to stay informed through official channels for updates.”

County of St. Paul opens up campgrounds to evacuees

The County of St. Paul has announced its offer of open campground spaces at Westcove (Vincent Lake) and Stoney Lake, free of charge, to residents from Fort McMurray and other evacuated areas in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Those traveling from Lac la Biche to Bonnyville and Cold Lake can use the campgrounds located south of Hwy 55 by Hwy 867 or Hwy 881.

Evacuated residents interested in utilizing the campgrounds are requested to register with the caretakers, as they would under any other circumstance, presenting a photo ID. Acknowledging the possibility that evacuees may have lost or misplaced their identification amidst the chaos, the County has provided alternative measures. Individuals are advised to provide their Fort McMurray mailing address in such cases.

To confirm the availability of campground spots, residents can contact Stoney Lake at 780-724-2381 or Westcove at 780-645-6688.

The County of St. Paul’s gesture is a support measure during this challenging wildfire evacuation. They emphasize the importance of staying safe and encourage evacuated individuals to utilize these resources as needed.

 

Various businesses support the evacuees

A number of local businesses have offered help where they can to evacuees. Bluewave Energy Bonnyville offers a free RV propane tank fill to any Ft. Mac region residents who are evacuated from their homes. Evacuees may stop in at Bluewave Energy in Bonnyville and display their ID to receive a 20—or 30-pound propane fill for the RV. Bluewave Energy Bonnyville is located at 5501 49 St, Bonnyville.

 

Latest Update

The latest update on the fire reports that the fire was remapped overnight, bringing the size down to approximately 19,820 hectares. The ongoing wildfire remains approximately 4.5 km from the intersection of Hwy 63 and Hwy 881, and about 5.5 km from the landfill. Throughout the night, aerial operations persisted until 4 a.m., utilizing night vision-equipped aircraft to drop 31,000 gallons of water, focusing primarily on the eastern edge of the wildfire. Simultaneously, ground operations continued, concentrating on constructing a containment line starting from the landfill. This construction effort is being maintained as a 24-hour operation to ensure completion of the containment line.

Today’s weather forecast for the region indicates a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius, accompanied by a risk of thundershowers and a predicted rainfall ranging from 5 to 15mm. Winds are anticipated to originate from the east, with speeds ranging between 30km/h and gusting up to 50km/h during the morning hours. The closest weather station reported 0.3mm of precipitation from last night’s showers, with the community experiencing several hours of rainfall overnight.

Given the weather conditions, fire behavior is expected to be subdued today. The forecast for the next few days remains consistent, with predicted precipitation values varying from 20 to 80mm in total.

The MWF-017 wildfire update will take place at 10am this morning. Use this link to join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztvhY73zKF8