Northern Alberta residents stay back to help protect community from wildfire
CTV
Mike Mercredi is staying back to protect his northern Alberta community from a nearby wildfire after hundreds of people were forced to evacuate the area.
Mike Mercredi is staying back to protect his northern Alberta community from a nearby wildfire after hundreds of people were forced to evacuate the area.
The volunteer firefighter from Fort Chipewyan, Alta., says he is among a group of community members on standby who have been setting up sprinklers on neighbourhood streets as crews work to contain the flames north of the hamlet.
“We’re staying behind to fight so we don’t lose our homes,” Mercredi said. “I don’t have to worry about myself — I’ve got experience and I’m already taken care of. My boat is ready, I got gas in there, I got water, I got food, I’ve got a generator, my coffee pot and my dog.”
On Tuesday evening, an evacuation order was issued for Fort Chipewyan, about 730 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, as an out-of-control fire burns about 10 kilometres north of the community.
Alberta fire officials said Thursday 731 people have registered to evacuate from the hamlet. People have been airlifted or are leaving by boat, and evacuations are to continue as needed.
Bre Hutchinson, the executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, told reporters some community members are staying behind to fight the fire if needed.
"We work with the local authorities to ensure that they have the appropriate protective equipment and understand when to move," she said.
