A decade after the wildfires that impacted Fort McMurray, Alberta

Ten years ago today, people living in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), which includes Fort McMurray, were evacuated from their homes due to the Horse River Wildfire. At the time, it was the largest single wildfire evacuation in Canadian history, with more than 80,000 people seeking safety and support.

Every household, community organization, and business in RMWB was affected – from smoke damage and soiled goods to severe destruction and devastating losses. For every person affected by the fires, it was a defining moment in their lives. From evacuation and re-entry through recovery, the Canadian Red Cross has supported individuals, families, community organizations, and small businesses impacted by the fires in Fort McMurray and surrounding areas.

“The approach to recovery has been holistic,” says Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. “Recovery takes time and can be extremely complicated. Following the disaster in Fort McMurray, the Canadian Red Cross stayed in the community to help. Ultimately, recovery was defined by those impacted and at the pace of the community.”

Ever since the fires that impacted Alberta in 2016, there has been an increasing need for Red Cross operations and assistance for Canadians. Emergencies and disasters have become more severe and more frequent, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, health emergencies, and support for people displaced due to conflict.

“Disasters and emergencies in Canada are no longer exceptional events,” says Sauvé. “The fires in 2016 were a wake-up call to what has transpired over the past 10 years, and to what will be ahead. We all need to be ready. It is becoming increasingly important to get ahead of disastrous events, and for communities in every province and territory to be prepared.”

Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, the Canadian Red Cross provided assistance for more than 16,000 families, 3,296 small businesses, and 145 community organizations in Fort McMurray and area to help with recovery following the 2016 wildfires.

For more information on how Canadian Red Cross helped people impacted by the 2016 Alberta Fires, please visit www.redcross.ca.

 

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ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

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