(Fox Creek) The smell of ash still hung near Fox Creek, Alta., Wednesday as the first evacuees returned home after 19 days away. Rainfall over the past few days has given a healthy boost to firefighters, who were still battling the blaze a kilometer away.
What there is to know
Alberta is grappling with unprecedented wildfires, which forced the evacuation of 30,000 people in early May.
They were caused by abnormally hot and dry weather for the month of May, but the rain of the last few days has allowed firefighters to better control them.
Some evacuees have been able to return to their homes in recent days, dropping their numbers to around 7,000.
“I never thought I would be so happy to see Fox Creek again,” exclaimed one of the evacuees, moved, stopping his vehicle in passing to hug a firefighter.
The Alberta government has lifted the evacuation order that had been in effect since May 6 in this small town located more than 250 kilometers northwest of Edmonton. However, the state of alert remains in effect, which means that residents must be ready to evacuate again at any time. Two wildfires in the area are still considered out of control.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
A Fox Creek evacuee on her way home stopped her vehicle to hug a firefighter.
“The fire did not come closer to the community. It’s still about a mile away, but the main difference is how much ground the firefighters have been able to gain,” Alberta Wildfire communications manager Christie Tucker said during her daily briefing.
In all, 89 firefighters fought the flames, including about 20 from Fox Creek. The tens of millimeters of rain received on Monday and Tuesday greatly facilitated their work. “It’s not over,” remarked Jillian White, a New Brunswicker who has lived in this small town for a few years. The government told us that it was probably going to last all summer. »
She was part of a group of firefighters gathered in front of the barracks with their gleaming trucks to welcome the evacuees. Cheerful honks could be heard echoing through the otherwise deserted streets of the city to salute their work.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Area affected by forest fires in Fox Creek
“We installed watering cans on all the houses that were on the side of town where the fire could enter,” explained the firefighter. The wind can carry the embers and it can land on roofs or balconies. »
“You are heroes,” exclaimed a resident, driving her truck. I don’t know how to thank you. »
appeasement
The blazes may not have reached the city, but they left their mark along Highway 43 and even swept right through it over the weekend. Many charred trees still stand on either side. A few were spared here and there, a sign of the unpredictability of the fire. Almost all the vegetation is black.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Whitecourt Mayor Tom Pickard
“It’s the first day we’ve seen the sky in two weeks,” said Whitecourt Mayor Tom Pickard. We had thick smoke, ash falling from the sky. »
At the height of the crisis, its small town of about 10,000 people hosted 3,000 evacuees from the area, including 1,850 from Fox Creek who settled in nearby hotels and campgrounds. The parish hall was transformed into a crisis center where evacuees could find a meal and a listening ear. Uncertainty was beginning to weigh on the morale of the evacuees.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Fox Creek Mayor Sheila Gilmour at the Whitecourt Evacuee Crisis Center
We had a lot of ups and downs. We went from frustration to discouragement.
Sheila Gilmour, Mayor of Fox Creek
The Coulter family intended to stay in Whitecourt for at least another day, for fear of being evacuated again. “It’s a relief up to a point, but the fire is still not under control,” said Stephen, met outside the parish hall.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Stephen Coulter, evacuee from Fox Creek
“If the wind picks up, it can spread fast,” added Kalene, alongside him.
The rain won’t be enough
The number of evacuees, which reached 10,000 just a few days ago, has fallen to around 7,000 in recent days.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The meal is served at the crisis center for evacuees in Whitecourt.
The situation, fueled by abnormally hot and dry weather for the month of May, is unprecedented, according to provincial authorities. Alberta still had 56 fires on Wednesday, 19 of which were out of control.
The weather gave the firefighters a big helping hand, but the rain was not enough to put out an uncontrolled forest fire.
Christie Tucker, Alberta Wildfire Communications Manager
Firefighters must roam the woods to put out the embers hidden under the ashes or even the roots of trees that have caught fire, otherwise the flames can spread even more. About 100 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are deployed in the region to carry out this work.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Aerial view of Fox Creek
In all, 2,700 people are fighting the fires raging in the north of the province, including 20 SOPFEU forest firefighters. They will be back in Quebec towards the end of the week. Reinforcements from New Zealand and Australia will soon arrive to lend a hand to their fellow Albertans.
More than 1 million hectares burned this spring in Alberta, surpassing the entire area consumed by flames for the entire 2019 season.