What’s new today:
- Fort Chipewyan Townhall- Tuesday, June 13
- Locations of fire protection in place
- Drop in for “Tea-time.”
- Hotel information tables: new hours starting June 12.
- Canada Post update for Fort Chipewyan residents
- Alberta Supports office returns to regular hours of operation
Since the Fort Chipewyan Together on the Snye gathering place opened on June 9, we have seen many community members joining us for daily activities. The last few days, residents have shared meals and participated in daily programming including fishing and lawn games.
Today’s highlights included an exciting game of bingo with prizes. Bingo will take place again on Thursday, June 15 at 1 p.m. Tomorrow, the Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre is holding youth arts and crafts from 4 p.m-6 p.m.
The community gathering on the Snye will continue daily from 9:30 a.m-7 p.m. until it’s safe to return home. Thank you to the Elders, knowledge keepers and supporting agencies for their assistance and guidance in creating this gathering space.
Fort Chipewyan Town Hall-Tuesday, June 13
All Fort Chipewyan community members are invited to a Town Hall on Tuesday, June 13 starting at 2 p.m. at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre located at Keyano College. Transportation from the hotels will be provided. There will be kids activities and important updates shared. More information on this event will be provided tomorrow.
Fire protection in place
A significant amount of work was completed today to further protect Fort Chipewyan. There were two dozers working to build and expand fire breaks around the northern perimeter of Fort Chipewyan.
There are approximately 37 people divided into 4 different crews, including a local crew that are performing doing “FireSmart Vegetation Management”. This involves thinning and spacing combustible evergreen trees, removing dead, down and unhealthy trees, and cleaning up debris on the forest floor to reduce fuel loads. This work is being done behind the school and in other areas around Fort Chipewyan.
Sprinkler and structure protection systems have been in place for some time in Allison Bay, around cabins and on the northern perimeter of Fort Chipewyan proper. Crews are continuously monitoring and checking these systems to ensure they are ready, if needed.
The locations of the three layers of protection are highlighted on the map included at the bottom of this update. All of this is in addition to the work Alberta Wildfire is doing on the containment line and to directly manage the wildfire.
Wildfire status
At the time this update was published, Alberta Wildfire is reporting that the wildfire is approximately 4.5 km from Allison Bay residences, approximately 2.5 km from the Fort Chipewyan airport and approximately 7 km from Fort Chipewyan. This wildfire is classified as out of control and is approximately 52,542 ha in size.
The wildfire did not grow towards Fort Chipewyan, the airport or Allison Bay residences. Crews worked on the south containment line with support of helicopters with buckets. This work continues today, as long as it is safe to do so.
Currently, there are a total of 232 personnel working on this wildfire, which includes firefighters, structure protection personnel and contractors. They are supported by helicopters conducting bucketing operations and heavy equipment.
Re-entry planning
At this time, it is not possible to provide an exact date when people will be brought back to Fort Chipewyan. Planning for re-entry is moving ahead though. Free air transportation will be provided during the re-entry period. More details will be provided once the wildfire situation improves.
Be mindful of purchases. Evacuees returning by air will be permitted to bring up to 50 pounds of personal luggage with them on the plane. An extra 100 pounds of additional cargo will also be permitted for each evacuee on later flights. For any additional luggage, the evacuee will be responsible for coordinating their own shipping and costs.
Until it is deemed safe to return, the evacuation order will remain in place. A decision on when re-entry will happen will be made in cooperation with the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, as well as with Alberta Wildfire. The progress firefighters and teams on the ground are making to contain and manage the wildfire will determine when it is safe.
Supports for evacuees
Fort Chipewyan Together on the Snye: Schedule for Monday, June 12
Fort Chipewyan Together on the Snye will remain open all week from 9:30 a.m. –7 p.m.
Food will be available for breakfast, lunch and dinner with refreshments served throughout the day. Monday’s menu includes:
- Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage & hashbrowns
- Lunch: bannock & jams
- Dinner: roast chicken, potatoes & beets
Schedule for Monday, June 12
|
Time |
Programming* |
|
9:30 a.m. |
Opening prayer & breakfast |
|
9:30 a.m. -12 p.m. |
Tea, coffee, visiting, lawn games |
|
12 p.m. |
Blessing & lunch |
|
12:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Tea, coffee, visiting, lawn games |
|
4 p.m. -6 p.m. |
Youth arts & crafts hosted by Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre |
|
5:30 p.m. |
Blessing & dinner |
|
7 p.m. |
Closing prayer |
*Schedule & programming subject to change
A shuttle bus schedule has been developed with Sparksman Transportation to assist community members to travel to the Snye with buses arriving every hour. The schedule can be found at rmwb.ca/fortchip.
Hotel information tables: new hours starting June 12.
The hotel information tables will now be staffed from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily. If support is needed after 6 p.m., please contact Pulse at 1-800-973-9663 or 780-743-7000.
Drop in for “Tea-time”
Starting June 12, community members are invited to attend “Tea-time”; an opportunity to visit, have tea and conversation! Sessions are hosted at the hotels by staff from the Mental Health Collective. The schedule is available online at rmwb.ca/fortchip and the hotel information tables.
Canada Post Update-Option for mail pick-up
Starting June 13,Fort Chipewyan residents have the option to retrieve mail and parcels at the mobile Canada Post office, 250 MacKay Crescent between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Please track any packages you are waiting for to ensure they have arrived in Fort McMurray. You will need to bring government issued ID to pick up mail items. For security purposes, anyone without ID will need to wait until they return to Fort Chip to receive their mail.
Please note this is just an option, mail will continue to be held until you return home.
Provincial financial support- change in hours
The province is providing financial support if you have been evacuated from your primary residence for seven days or more. Albertans who qualify will receive: $1,250 for each adult aged 18 and older and $500 for each dependent child under 18. Ensure you have registered for a MyAlberta account. Learn more at evacuationpayment.alberta.ca.
Location and hours of operation:
Main Floor Provincial Building, 9915 Franklin Ave.
Monday-Friday 8:15 am until 4:30 pm (Closed for lunch between 12 p.m. –1 p.m.). Closed on weekends.
For emergency financial assistance outside of these extended hours, call the Income Support Contact Centre at 1-866-644-5134 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Wood Buffalo Regional Library Pop-Up Visits
To help support Fort Chipewyan evacuees, library staff will be making visits at hotels throughout town to provide services and materials including:
- Internet Hub
- Library Cards (No ID? No problem. Present your Community Member Card and we’ll get you set up with an account.)
- Books
- Movies
Please see the daily schedule for more information.
Stay informed
All emergency updates and information is available at rmwb.ca/fortchip and on community trusted channels, as well as the Municipal Facebook and Twitter pages @RMWoodBuffalo.
For questions or further information, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000 or 1-800-973-9663.
