By rdnewsNOW staff

Positive Signs

Alberta wildfire update: June 21

Jun 21, 2023 | 4:45 PM

Re-entry for residents of Fort Chipewyan and surrounding areas is expected to begin June 22 after essential services are restored.

Current situation

• General community re-entry is the second phase of a plan to return all residents to their homes and is tentatively scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 22.
  • The mandatory evacuation order remains in place. It will be lifted once all essential services in Fort Chipewyan are confirmed ready for everyone to return home.
  • Residents with mobility issues and health conditions will be returned home once general community re-entry is complete.
  • Visit rmwb.ca for more information.
• An evacuation order remains in effect for Little River Cree Nation – Fox Lake.
• Visit 511.alberta.ca for up-to-date information on road closures and travel advisories.
• Support continues to be available to Albertans 24-7. Visit alberta.ca/emergency or call 310-4455.
• Current wildfire information is available on the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
• Current year wildfires by suspected cause:
  • Human: 390 (Human-caused wildfires cover several different categories – everything from recreational fires to agricultural incidents to wildfires caused by people on residential land. Human-caused wildfires account for more than half of all wildfires annually.)
  • Lightning: 150
  • Under investigation: 116
• Albertans are asked to do their part to prevent new wildfires by respecting fire bans or restrictions in their areas. Visit albertafirebans.ca for details.
• Special air quality statements remain in effect across parts of the province. Visit airquality.alberta.ca to find out the level of health risk associated with your local air quality.
• Number of evacuation orders: 2
• Alberta Emergency Alerts: 1 order
• Number of evacuees: 3,693
• Alberta currently has more than 2,600 personnel working on wildfires. This includes support from partner agencies across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Chile and South Africa.
• Members of the 3rd Canadian Division and the Royal Canadian Air Force have redeployed after concluding operations to support firefighting efforts in Alberta.

Support for evacuees

• Those evacuated due to wildfires should register at local reception centres or at emergencyregistration.alberta.ca.
• Since the announcement of one-time emergency financial assistance for evacuees, more than 25,800 applications have been processed.
• More than $33.2 million in e-transfers has been sent to evacuees.
• More than $11.5 million in debit cards has been distributed.

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Donations

• Albertans who wish to help can make cash donations through the Canadian Red Cross or within their regions to a recognized charitable organization of their choice.
• The Canadian Red Cross has launched an Immediate Support to Not-for-Profit Organizations program to deliver urgent and ongoing support for people affected by wildfires across Alberta.
• Eligible community organizations providing immediate relief assistance may apply for $5,000 in one-time funding. View full program eligibility criteria.

For more information on the emergency and supports for evacuees, go to alberta.ca/emergency.