2:30 update from the province

The following is a complete reproduction of the update issued to media at 2:30 p.m. MT Tuesday, May 17, 2016. 

Today, Premier Notley delivered the following update on the wildfires:

“We know those who live and work in the Fort McMurray area have lots of questions, and we’re doing our best to answer them.”

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Premier Rachel Notley

Current situation

• Fire conditions remain extreme in the province.
• The Fort McMurray wildfire remains out of control. It is estimated to cover 355,000 hectares.
• There were five new fire starts over the past 24 hours. A total of 17 wildfires are burning, with four out of control.
• There are 1,754 firefighters, 208 helicopters, 412 pieces of heavy equipment and 29 air tankers currently battling the fires.
• ATCO has restored gas services to about 60 per cent of Fort McMurray.
• Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation remain under a mandatory evacuation order.
• Camps and facilities south of Fort McKay are under a mandatory evacuation order. Last night, approximately 8,000 non-essential staff were evacuated from more than a dozen camps.
• Fort McKay First Nation, Athabasca Camp and the Beaver River Camp are under a recommended evacuation order.
• Highway 63 from the Parson’s Creek interchange to the Suncor interchange is closed north and southbound. There is no public access to the city at this time.
• Residents in the Municipal District of Greenview, south of the Hamlet of Little Smoky and north of Fox Creek, are able to return to their homes, but remain on a two-hour evacuation notice. The fire is approximately 900 hectares in size.
• The Peace River fire currently covers roughly 17,000 hectares.

Weather

• The temperature forecast for today is 25 C with a relative humidity of 20 per cent.
• Temperatures are forecast in the high 20s for the next few days, with winds gusting up to 20 to 35 km/h out of the southwest. Rain is forecast over the weekend.

Abandoned vehicles

North of Fort McMurray

• To ensure safety, Alberta Transportation has suspended abandoned vehicle retrieval for individuals with vehicles on Highway 881 or on Highway 63 north of the Highway 63/881 junction due to heavy wildfire smoke.
• Albertans who want to retrieve their vehicles from this area are asked to check our website (emergency.alberta.ca) for updates on when conditions improve and it becomes safe to travel to your vehicle.

South of Fort McMurray

• Individuals who abandoned their vehicles on Highway 63 south of the Highway 63/881 junction can call Highway 63 Towing & Recovery at 1-877-671-2717 to confirm if their vehicle is at the Wandering River yard and ready for retrieval.
• Vehicles are stored at the Wandering River yard, about 230 kilometres north of Edmonton.

Update on plans for re-entry

• The 2016 Wildfire Recovery Task Force is meeting regularly to plan re-entry into affected communities.
• We expect to be able to share the re-entry plan in the coming days, and the plan will answer most questions about timing.
• Five things need to be in place for re-entry:

• Wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the community.
• Critical infrastructure is repaired to provide basic service.
• Essential services, such as fire, EMS, police and health care are restored to a basic level.
• Hazardous areas are secure. There are 100 truckloads of fencing being sent to Fort McMurray.
• Local government is re-established.

Emergency Financial Assistance – Debit Cards

• $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependant in one-time emergency financial assistance is being provided to people who have been displaced.
• Parking is free at debit-card locations.

Debit Card Location	Hours of Operation
Edmonton
Edmonton Butterdome 114 Street and 87 Avenue	May 17 – 19: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. May 20: 8 a.m. – noon
NAIT North Lobby 11762 106 Street	May 17 – 19: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. May 20: 8 a.m. – noon
Strathcona County Community Centre In the Agora (The Welcome Centre) 2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park	May 17 – 19: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. May 20: 8 a.m. – noon
Calgary
BMO Centre Calgary Stampede Park, Hall A 20 Roundup Way SW	May 17 – 19: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. May 20: 8 a.m. – noon
Lac La Biche
Alberta Works 9503 Beaverhill Road Provincial Building	Monday to Friday: 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

After May 20, emergency financial assistance will be moved to Alberta Works offices. More information will come in the following days.