Fire damage from the Fort Chipewyan wildfire (Photo Submitted)
The municipality is applying for provincial funds to recover costs associated with fighting the Fort Chipewyan wildfire last month. The Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations are applying for similar relief from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
The total cost of fighting the wildfire and housing Fort Chipewyan evacuees is still being calculated by most involved agencies, including the municipality and Indigenous communities. Nearly $700 million has been spent by the province battling wildfires this year, said Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.
The Alberta government has set aside $175 million in disaster recovery funding for municipalities and Métis settlements dealing with a wildfire season that has been more chaotic than expected.
The provincial funds can cover volunteer firefighter wages, staff overtime, and outfitting evacuation centres. It could also funding repairs to infrastructure damaged during the fight to keep wildfires away from communities. Applications can be made for up to 90 per cent of those outstanding costs.
Fort Chipewyan was evacuated on May 30 when an out of control wildfire began moving towards the community. A staggered re-entry began on June 19. Residents started going home on June 22 and vulnerable residents returned on June 24. The wildfire did not enter the community, although cabins were destroyed.
The wildfire itself is seven kilometres north of Fort Chipewyan. About 80 per cent of its perimeter—including its entire southern flank—is under control and no longer a threat to the community. As of Monday, the wildfire covers 736 square-kilometres. It was first detected on May 28 and caused by lightning.
Across Alberta, there have been 828 wildfires that have burned more than 15,552 square-kilometres of land.
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