Update 8: Fort McMurray Wildfire (May 8 at 4:15 p.m.)

Press Release

Today, Premier Notley delivered the following update on the wildfires around Fort McMurray:

“Our goal yesterday was to complete the evacuation of the 25,000 residents who fled to the north of Fort McMurray. I’m pleased to say we have succeeded. Thank you so much to everyone involved in all of these efforts to get people to safety.”

Premier Notley

Current situation

• Currently there are more than 500 firefighters battling the blaze in and around Fort McMurray, along with 15 helicopters, 14 air tankers and 88 other pieces of equipment.
• Yesterday’s plan to evacuate 25,000 residents who fled north of Fort McMurray was a success. As of 10:00am, no evacuees have been reported remaining in camps to the north.
• 300 people from Fort McKay were evacuated to the Edmonton area by air and ground. This was a precautionary evacuation due to heavy smoke in the area.
• 1,500 employees at the Syncrude facility were evacuated on May 7 and the facility was shut down. Groups of employees have also been evacuated from the Suncor, Husky, Shell and CNRL facilities. Many of these facilities are still operating.
• 250 ATCO employees are in Fort McMurray working to restore the power grid and assess the gas infrastructure.
• Alberta Agriculture and Forestry are working closely with the RCMP and SPCA in Fort McMurray to address reports from evacuees asking for help with dogs, cats and other pets left behind during the emergency evacuation. The SPCA is requesting that those with pets left behind register them online at http://asset.rmwb.ca/pet-rescue/
• The wildfire is currently 161,000 hectares and is anticipated to grow overnight.
• Fire conditions remain extreme, with four new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 34 wildfires are burning, with five out of control, 23 under control and six turned over to the responsible parties.
• More than 1,500 firefighters, approximately 150 helicopters, 222 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 28 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province.
• Temperature forecast for Sunday is 18°C with winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour. There is the potential for showers in the Fort McMurray area.

Additional updates

Emergency Financial Assistance – Debit Cards

• $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependent in emergency financial assistance will be provided to people who have been displaced.
• This assistance is likely to be provided in the form of pre-loaded debit cards.
• Details on when this assistance will be available and how to get access to it will be available beginning on May 11, 2016.  Government of Alberta offices will not have additional information until then. When details are available they will be posted on this page and will be available through 310-4455.
• In order to allow for immediate distribution to people who are most urgently in need of this assistance, we’re asking evacuees who aren’t in dire need of these funds to not claim them immediately.

Evacuation information

• There are currently 12 reception centres operating within the province. Additional details are available on the Alberta government emergency updates website:
  • Lac La Biche – The Bold Centre – 8702-91 Avenue
  • Edmonton – Northlands Grounds, Hall A – 7515-118 Avenue
  • Calgary – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) – 1301-16 Ave NW
  • St. Paul – Centennial Recreation Centre – 4802-53 Street
  • Grassland – Community Hall –  Main Street
  • Drayton Valley – Omniplex – 5737-45 Avenue
  • Smoky Lake – 4612 – 54 Avenue
  • Fort Chipewyan Reception Centre  *For First Nation Band members only
  • Athabasca – Athabasca Agriplex – Highway 813 and RR 224
  • Beaver Lake First Nation – Cardinal Drive
  • Ambrose College – 150 Ambrose Circle SW, Calgary
  • University of Calgary – 2500 University Drive NW
• Preliminary re-entry planning is underway, including preparing for co-ordinated damage assessments and ensuring vital emergency services and utilities are back online and operating safely. It’s important to note that there is no date for re-entry yet.
• A fire from British Columbia has crossed 10 kilometres over the boundary and we’ve begun attacking it from the Alberta side, working with B.C. firefighters. This fire is roughly hectares within Alberta. Another fire, north of Red Earth, is 25 per cent contained and has had no significant growth. Neither is threatening any communities.
• Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order.
• Albertans can stay up-to-date on wildfire-related information by calling 310-4455 in Alberta; 1-844-406-3276, and on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

Information for affected residents

• All evacuees should register with the Red Cross – no matter where you are currently. This will help ensure you have access to the services you may need, including access to emergency financial assistance. Register:
  • Online at RedCross.ca
  • 1-888-350-6070
• 36,831 households have registered with the Red Cross.
• Family members and evacuees trying to reunite can also contact the Red Cross. *Due to high call volumes, you may not be able to reach someone right away.
• If documents, such as driver’s licences or ID cards, were left behind during the evacuation, new cards can be issued free of charge at a registry agent. A list of registry locations can be found at the Service Alberta website at www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca.

Health-related information

• To get a replacement Health Care Insurance Card at no cost, you can contact us at or toll free at 310-0000 and then when prompted. Your Alberta Personal Health Card can be mailed to a temporary address.
• Breastfeeding mothers can get support from the Canadian Lactation Consultant Association. Services include triage for moms and babies, breastfeeding tents, lactation consultation, and education for new mothers on what to expect in emergency disaster situations. Contact or iycfehelp@gmail.com.
• Mental health support is available by calling Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line at .

• AHS has mental health staff at the evacuation/reception centres in Lac La Biche, Northlands (Edmonton), SAIT, University of Calgary, Ambrose University (Calgary), St. Paul, and Suncor Firebag site north of Fort McMurray.
  • For resources in your areas, please call Health Link Toll-free by dialing 811 or call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642.

• Alberta Health Services has issued a boil-water advisory for the area of Fort McMurray including Anzac, Conklin, Gregoire Lake Provincial Park, Janvier, and nearby work camps that pull water from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Water Treatment Plant, as a precautionary measure.
• Area camps that get water from EPCOR, or any provider other than the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, are not affected and do not need to boil water, at this time.
  • Please Note: Fort McKay residents do not need to boil water. This boil-water advisory excludes Fort McKay. About 200 vulnerable residents have been evacuated from the community.
• Alberta Health Services has issued an air-quality advisory for the Fort McMurray area, as well as a precautionary advisory for communities in the North Zone due to wildfires; residents are advised to take appropriate precautions. Real-time air-quality data and information is available at www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/aqhi/aqhi.aspx.

Information for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12

• Students displaced from Fort McMurray and surrounding communities are encouraged to register in a school to continue their studies. For further information, please contact https://education.alberta.ca/alberta-education/school-authority-index/.
• Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) for Grades 6 and 9 have been cancelled for students in the Fort McMurray Public School District, Fort McMurray Roman Catholic School District, Anzac and Fort McKay schools within Northland School Division, and École Boréal within Greater North Central Francophone Education Region (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord).  Any student who wishes to take their PAT exam can do so in the school where they have registered.
• Alberta Education will provide an update on the status of June diploma exams for students within affected school authorities as soon as information becomes available.

Information for post-secondary students

• Keyano College’s Clearwater and Industrial campuses are closed until further notice. Please check the Keyano website for the most up-to-date information.
• Apprentices or journeypersons from the Fort McMurray area who have questions should call the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Information line at , Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca.
• Post-secondary students with questions about Alberta student loans can call , Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Alberta Culture and Tourism information

• People displaced by the wildfires are invited to take time with family and friends with free regular admission to any of Alberta’s 17 provincially owned and operated historic sites and museums. Just present your photo ID or provide your postal code visit www.culture.alberta.ca/.

Services for affected residents

• Residents receiving benefits from the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) who are affected by the wildfire in Fort McMurray are advised to call the Athabasca AISH office at during regular office hours or visit Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH). After hours, evacuees can call the 24-hour Income Support Contact Centre at (then press 1) or within Edmonton call .
• For information on child intervention and child care, Fort McMurray and area residents may contact .
• For Family Support for Children with Disabilities, Fort McMurray and area residents may contact (toll free in Alberta, dial 310-0000).
• Information on emergency benefits for eligible Albertans in need is here Emergency benefits to eligible Albertans in need.
• Affected Alberta Works clients receiving benefits from the Alberta Works Income Support program are advised to call the Cold Lake Alberta Works Centre at (toll free at 310-0000 then ) during regular office hours. After hours, evacuees can call the 24-hour Income Support Contact Centre at (then press 1) or within Edmonton call .
• Clients can also send an email to iscc@gov.ab.ca to find out how to receive benefits.
• If persons with developmental disabilities, their families or contracted service providers need human, financial, or in-kind assistance to connect with loved ones, find accommodations or provide assistance to individuals receiving PDD supports, please contact the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program Branch at ext#3 or as an alternate Disability Services at or visit Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
• For additional information on social benefits, affected individuals can contact Alberta Supports at .
• Support for LGBTQ2S evacuees is available through The Pride Centre of Edmonton. Drop-in Monday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Road closures

At present, travel on Highway 63 and Highway 881 is still restricted.

Traffic control points are currently in effect at:

• Hwy 63/881 Junction.
  • Southbound traffic from Fort McMurray is allowed. Only emergency responders and disaster relief efforts are being allowed to travel north of the junction.
• Hwy 63/Parsons Creek Interchange (north end Fort McMurray).
  • RCMP are controlling all southbound traffic.
• Highway 881 is closed between the Highway 63 junction and Conklin due to wildfire.
• Southbound travel from the Hwy 63/881 junction can only travel down Highway 63.
• There are also information points in place at Highway 63/55 and Highway 881/858.
• Only emergency responders and people involved in disaster relief efforts are being allowed into Fort McMurray.

Donations and volunteers

• Anyone who wants to help with a donation can contact the Canadian Red Cross at redcross.ca or .
• The Municipal District of Wood Buffalo is not accepting donations at this time.
• Economic Development and Trade is coordinating donations from international sources and has been in contact with several foreign embassies regarding the status of their citizens in the impacted areas. International citizens impacted by the evacuations are encouraged to register with their home embassy.

• Information for evacuees on emergency.alberta.ca
• Alberta Emergency Alerts app

Backgrounder

Previous Updates

Wildfire Update 7: May 7 at 8 p.m.

• The wildfire will cover more than 200,000 hectares by midnight and will continue to grow.
• Convoys of evacuee vehicles began at 6 a.m. this morning and are expected to finish by the end of the day. Traffic is flowing south on Highway 63 from the Parsons Creek Interchange under RCMP control. As many as 2,400 vehicles were able to travel safely in convoys through to south of Fort McMurray yesterday.
• Convoys of 30 trucks carrying essential equipment to support critical industrial services began today from a staging area 12 kilometres south of Fort McMurray to north of Fort McMurray and will provide supplies and support for various industrial facilities.
• There are more than 500 firefighters battling the blaze in and around Fort McMurray, along with 15 helicopters, 14 air tankers and 88 other pieces of equipment.
• Preliminary re-entry planning is underway, including preparing for co-ordinated damage assessments and ensuring that vital emergency services and utilities are back online and operating safely. It’s important to note, there is no date for re-entry yet.
• Fire conditions remain extreme, with 12 new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 43 wildfires are burning, with seven out of control, one being held, 29 under control and six turned over to the responsible parties.
• A fire from British Columbia is encroaching on the boundary and we’ve begun attacking it from the Alberta side, working with B.C. firefighters. The fire was located 108 kilometres northwest of Fairview. Another fire, north of Red Earth, is 25 per cent contained. Neither is threatening any communities.
• The temperature forecast for Sunday is 15C with winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour. There is the potential for showers in the Fort McMurray area.
• More than 1,400 firefighters, about 133 helicopters, 200 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 27 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province.
• Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order.

Wildfire Update 6: May 7 at 11:45 a.m.

• The wildfire covers more than 156,000 hectares and is expected to grow today.
• Convoys of evacuee vehicles began at 6 a.m. today and are expected to be finished by the end of the day. Traffic is flowing s outh on Highway 63 from the Parsons Creek Interchange under RCMP control. As many as 2,400 vehicles were able to move safely through to south of Fort McMurray yesterday.
• Also beginning today, convoys of about 30 trucks carrying essential equipment to support critical industrial services will begin moving from their staging area 12 kilometres south of Fort McMurray and will travel to north of Fort McMurray. They will provide supplies and support for various industrial facilities.
• More than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze in and around Fort McMurray, along with 15 helicopters, 14 air tankers and 88 other pieces of equipment.

Wildfire Update 5: May 6 at 7 p.m.

• People who have been displaced will be provided with $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependant in emergency financial assistance. This will probably be provided in the form of pre-loaded debit cards. Details on when this assistance will be available and how to get access to it will be announced by May 11, 2016.  Government of Alberta offices will not have additional information until that time. When details are available they will be posted on emergency.alberta.ca and available through 310-4455. In order to allow for immediate distribution to people most urgently in need of this assistance, we are asking evacuees who are not in dire need of these funds not to claim them immediately.
• The Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) will allocate an initial $200 million for emergency costs. Disaster recovery programs provide financial assistance for municipalities and their citizens who incur uninsurable loss and damage as a result of a disastrous event. This amount was already included in Budget 2016 to cover emergency events.
• The Wood Buffalo Ministerial Recovery Task Force has been established to:
  • ensure safety and security in the affected areas;
  • support the needs of the communities;
  • plan the timely re-entry of residents when it is safe to do so; and
  • support the resumption of municipal, economic and business activities.

• Convoys of vehicles were temporarily halted at about 1 p.m. today due to wildfire smoke on Highway 63 south of Fort McMurray. They resumed about an hour later. Traffic is flowing south on Highway 63 from the Parsons Creek Interchange under RCMP control.

• Fire conditions remain extreme, with 12 new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 40 wildfires are burning, with five out of control, eight being held, 21 under control and six turned over to the responsible parties.
• A provincewide ban on the use of off-highway vehicles, due to the risk these vehicles pose in the very dry conditions Alberta is experiencing, is in effect.
• A provincial fire ban remains in effect across Alberta. All fire permits are suspended and no new permits will be issued. All open fires, including campfires and charcoal briquettes, are prohibited.
• Temperatures in the high teens and winds gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour will make firefighting challenging.
• More than 1,200 firefighters, approximately 110 helicopters, 295 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 27 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province.
• Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order.
• Albertans can stay up-to-date on wildfire-related information by calling 310-4455 in Alberta; 1-844-406-3276, and on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

Wildfire Update 4: May 6 at 12:30 p.m.

• The Government of Alberta will provide emergency financial assistance of $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependant to help meet immediate needs.
• Ground evacuations of people north of Fort McMurray began today, and will continue during daylight hours as weather and fire conditions permit. Vehicles are permitted to travel south on Highway 63 towards Edmonton or alternative accommodation.
• Fire conditions remain extreme, with 12 new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 40 wildfires are burning, with five out of control, eight being held, 21 under control, and six turned over to the responsible parties.
• A provincial fire ban is in effect across Alberta. All fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued. All open fires, including campfires and charcoal briquettes, are prohibited.
• Temperatures in the high teens and winds gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour will make firefighting challenging.
• More than 1,200 firefighters, approximately 110 helicopters, 295 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 27 air tankers are fighting the fires across the province.
• Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order.
• Albertans can call 310-4455 for information and stay up to date on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

Wildfire Update 3: May 5 at 6 p.m.

• A provincially declared state of emergency for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is in effect.
• Fire conditions remain extreme, with 18 new starts across Alberta yesterday. A total of 49 wildfires are burning, with seven considered out of control, 12 being held, 23 under control, and seven turned over to the responsible parties.
• Cooler temperatures of 16 C are predicted, but lower humidity and winds at 25 kilometres, gusting to 40 kilometres per hour, make weather a significant factor.
• More than 1,110 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers are fighting the fires.
• Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation and Mackenzie County near High Level. Residents of evacuated areas should not attempt to return home.
• Emergency gas and diesel are temporarily available along Highway 63.
• Albertans can call 310-4455 for information and stay up to date on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

Wildfire Update 2: May 5 at 10 a.m.

• A provincially declared state of emergency for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is in effect.
• Fire conditions remain extreme, with 18 new starts yesterday. A total of 49 wildfires are burning, with seven considered out of control, 12 being held, 23 under control, and seven turned over to the responsible parties.
• Cooler temperatures of 16 C are predicted, but lower humidity and winds at 25 kilometres, gusting to 40 kilometres per hour, make weather a significant factor.
• More than 1,110 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers are fighting the fires.
• Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation and Mackenzie County near High Level. Residents of evacuated areas should not attempt to return home.
• Emergency gas and diesel are temporarily available along Highway 63.
• Albertans can call 310-4455 for information and stay up to date on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

Wildfire Update 1: May 4 at 3:30 p.m.

• The Alberta government has declared a provincial state of emergency.
• The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect and affects approximately 80,000 people. Residents should not attempt to return home.
• A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Canadian Forces for air support to assist with transportation as needed.
• More than 250 firefighters, helicopters and air tankers are currently fighting this fire.
• The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have both declared a State of Local Emergency.
• Alberta Transportation is escorting a fuel tanker along Highway 63 to assist stranded motorists. Please stay with your vehicle unless your situation requires you to leave.
• Since April 1, there have been 329 wildfires in the province. All but two have been contained.

Media inquiries

Media Lead, Provincial Operations Centre Line
780-644-4863

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