Dense smoke forces evacuation in northwest

Thick smoke from two forest fires and flames as close as 17 km north from Meander River at one point forced a week-long precautionary health evacuation of 400 plus people for that Dene Tha’ First Nation’s community.

“I’m really happy with the way people pulled together. We had good cooperation from the community and volunteers were able to make things work for the evacuation,” said Chief James Ahnassay.

Evacuation notice was given July 10. The first wildfire was assessed July 6 and the second wildfire on July 9. Both were started by lightning due to dry conditions and burned north of Meander River.

“The smoke was really thick, at very dangerous levels,” said Ahnassay. “There was a huge fire at the time we called the evacuation.”

Anhassay said there were concerns that the westerly and northwesterly winds could move the flames closer to the community and people feared for their homes and property.

While some evacuees left Meander River in their own vehicles, most were bused out.  Evacuees were put up in hotels in High Level. Once they reached High Level, Dene Tha’ health officials worked with Alberta Health Services to provide health advice and to help members access medication.

Ahnassay said band officials met twice daily with representatives from Alberta and Canada Disaster Services, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and RCMP to monitor the progress of the fires.

At the height of those fires approximately 100 firefighters were employed along with four helicopters and other equipment, said Geoffrey Driscoll, wildlife information officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. Firefighters from Alberta were joined by those from Ontario, New Brunswick, the Yukon, Alaska and the state of Jalisco in Mexico in fighting fires across the province.

“We brought them from all over the place because we needed more firefighters. We bring them in through resource sharing agreements we have with these other firefighting jurisdictions. It’s a normal part of what we do because sometimes we send people out, we bring people in,” said Driscoll.

As of the end of July, the July 6 fire was at 3,950.60 hectares in size and under control, while the second fire was at 45,738 hectares in size and status was being held, which means with “current weather and resources, it’s not expected to grow past expected boundaries. This status is the one between out of control and under control,” said Driscoll.

A couple days before residents returned to Meander River, Ahnassay said the air monitoring system still indicated a reason for concern.

It is the first time residents from Meander River have been evacuated because of a forest fire.

Ahnassay said band officials will be meeting with the federal government in mid-August to discuss the costs of the evacuation and how the evacuation was handled.

Ahnassay said the price tag will be covered by the federal Disaster Services. He would not speculate at what the cost would be.

Zama City, in Mackenzie County, was also evacuated with 160 residents taking shelter in High Level  as the fires came within 12 km of that hamlet. A state of emergency was declared in that county on July 11, with 11 forest fires burning.