Alberta to complete review into Fort McMurray fire response by next summer
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — An Alberta government review into the response to the Fort McMurray wildfire is expected to be complete by next summer.
May’s fierce and unpredictable fire forced nearly 90,000 people from the northeastern Alberta city for a month and destroyed 10 per cent of its structures. After fleeing the fast-moving flames, evacuees stayed in community centres, in hotels and with friends and family until they were allowed to return in phases starting June 1.
The government is looking for a contractor to do an independent review into what went well — and what didn’t — during the disaster so that the province can learn from the experience.
“I do expect that there will be something that will make the already strong emergency response system we have even stronger for future disasters,” Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said in an interview Thursday.