Members of the Wood Buffalo RCMP are back home in the Timberlea detachment on the north side of Fort McMurray.
Most local members have already returned to work after being relieved by officers from across the country for two weeks. The first batch of Wood Buffalo RCMP officers returned Monday, the second wave will arrive on Thursday.
“A lot of members are happy to be back and eager to get back to work and hopefully get people back into their homes as soon as possible,” said Cpl. George Cameron. “We’re here to help out with that, we’re excited about welcoming everyone back into the community as well.”
The RCMP detachment was evacuated on May. 3 due to the wildfire although members continued their work to ensure the safe evacuation of over 80,000 people. Operations were run out of the south side facility. Currently members working in Fort McMurray are staying in accommodations outside of the city and they will continue to do so until Jun. 1.
Just like other members of the community a number of Mounties lost their homes in the fire.
“There is a process in place, the RCMP is certainly going to help them out to help them find a proper residence for them to live in while working here,” said Cameron. There are still 79 members from other detachments in Alberta helping with patrol duties in Fort McMurray.
While there was no damage to the Timberlea detachment, air quality is what kept employees out until Tuesday. Air scrubbers were used to return the detachment to a workable condition.
“Having a fully-functioning detachment and our people back on the job is great news for the RCMP and this community, “said Superintendent Rob McCloy, Officer-in-Charge of the Wood Buffalo RCMP Detachment. “We know that people are understandably concerned about the property they left behind, and we are working hard to keep the things safe until they can come home.”
McCloy was on vacation in Paris on the day the mandatory evacuation was ordered returning to Alberta immediately to help operations from the RCMP’s Emergency Operations Centre at “K” Division Headquarters in Edmonton.
