Fort Chipewyan is a small town in northeastern Alberta that is threatened by wildfires. The town’s remote location makes it hard to get people to leave.
About 1,000 people in Fort Chip, which is 300 kilometers northeast of Fort McMurray, were told to leave their homes on Tuesday, but it will take time to get everyone out.
After the ice road melts in the summer, the hamlet can only be reached by plane or boat.
The people are being moved by air and river in stages. Some people are going to Fort McMurray by plane. Some people are going south by boat along the Athabasca River.
The first people to leave were the people in Allison Bay, who lived closest to the wildfire’s edge.
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said around 500 people had left Fort Chipewyan by Tuesday evening.
He said that on Tuesday, all planes in the area had to land temporarily because it was hard to see.
Adam told the people to stay calm and said that more planes were on their way to the area. The last people living in Fort Chipewyan are expected to be taken away on Wednesday.
“I want to thank everyone for their hard work today. Adam said in a video that was shared on social media, “Thank you for working with us.”
“We stayed together, kept our cool, and watched out for each other. All we have to do is do this at the same time tomorrow, and we’ll all be safe.”
As of Tuesday night, the fire was about 13 kilometers from Fort Chipewyan but only four kilometers from Allison Bay, where about 125 people live.
The fire, which was first seen on Sunday and is thought to have started because of lightning, has already burned about 3,000 hectares.
Alberta Wildfire officials said that it is the most important wildfire in the province and that more crews are being sent to the front lines on Wednesday.
‘A hectic day
Adam said that people will be taken to Fort McMurray on a number of private and corporate charters, including a Hercules.
He said that the RCMP is helping to get people out of their homes by neighborhood. When it’s time for people to leave, someone will knock on the door to let them know.
Adams said, “I saw for myself that the fire didn’t grow much today.” ” Until Friday, the winds were in our favor.
“Today has been busy… The rest will be done tomorrow.”
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation issued the joint evacuation order and are working together to coordinate a response.
Billy-Joe Tuccaro, chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, said that community leaders and provincial and local emergency workers are working together to get everyone out.
Tuccaro posted a thank-you video on social media early Wednesday morning.
He said, “I’m very thankful, and I’m sure a lot of my people and a lot of people in the community are grateful for the help we got today.” “If everyone hadn’t helped, we wouldn’t have been as successful as we were.”
Kendrick Cardinal, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis local, said community leaders have been in close contact with provincial officials, including Premier Danielle Smith.
He said that Alberta Wildfire and troops from the Canadian Armed Forces are helping the town.
Temporary accommodations in Fort McMurray and Fort McKay are being arranged for evacuees.
Cardinal said he remains hopeful the community can be protected and thanked residents who will be remaining behind to aid in the wildfire fight.
He urged residents to abide the evacuation order and register as required so that leadership knows they made it out.
“I will be staying here until the bitter end,” Cardinal said.
“Material things can always be replaced. We just want to make sure everyone gets out safe, that nobody gets left behind.”
As of Wednesday morning, 67 wildfires are burning across Alberta. Of the 66 burning inside the province’s forest protection areas, 18 are burning out of control.