It could be at least two weeks before a plan is in place to decide when residents can return to Fort McMurray, said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley after touring the fire-devastated area Monday.
“First responders and repair crews have weeks of work ahead of them to make this city safe for the people of Fort McMurray — but it is going to be made safe,” Notley wrote in a Facebook post.
Notley said about 2,400 structures were lost in the fire, but 25,000 were saved, including the hospital, municipal buildings and every functioning school.
“This city was surrounded by an ocean of fire only a few days ago, but Fort McMurray and the surrounding communities have been saved,” Notley stated. “And they will be rebuilt.”
Meanwhile, residents and businesses in Williams Lake continue to rally to help Fort McMurray, gathering supplies and cash donations.
A container loaded with supplies at Cariboo Chevrolet GM will be hauled to Fort McMurray Wednesday morning, while Lake City Ford has put the call out to fill a reefer trailer for the community, as well.
Daybreak Rotary is also accepting cash or cheque donations at the Tribune office to forward to the Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund through Rotary District 5370 in Edmonton, Alta.
Residents in the B.C. Peace region have also been impacted by two large wildfires, which officials are now saying were deliberately set.