Third reception centre in Calgary opens doors to Fort McMurray evacuees
Posted May 6, 2016 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A steady flow of Fort McMurray evacuees are moving south, and they’re being directed to third reception centre at the University of Calgary. The SAIT and Ambrose centres were at capacity as of early Friday afternoon.
The Calgary Emergency Management Agency says the situation in Fort McMurray is dynamic and continues to change. Chief Tom Sampson is not sure exactly how many evacuees are heading this way.
“That’s been one of the toughest things to forecast, how many we’ll get. We’re working on the premise that it’s somewhere around 2,000-3,000. But we know that there’s that inherent filter as you move down the province and you find a place to stay,” says Sampson.
The Calgary Fire Department is finishing its first shift in the community, and worked all day yesterday extinguishing structure fires. More than 30 firefighters are rotating into Fort McMurray Saturday, along with operations staff. Fire Chief Steve Dongworth says they’re also sending a paramedic in case crews get into dangerous territory.
“I gave the deputy clear instruction that if he felt it was necessary to be there we would send it. He’s told me with the situation in Fort McMurray right now, that would be the prudent thing to do,” says Dongworth.
He confirms none of the 31 Calgary firefighters have been injured on the job since they started working Thursday morning.
The City of Calgary also sent water treatment staff to assist crews up north.
