Progress made on Alberta wildfires as many evacuees return home

The Alberta government says there has been significant progress in the fight against the wildfires in the province due to rain, cooler weather and the efforts of firefighters.

Several evacuated communities have announced re-entry plans this week, while others are preparing for residents to return.

Those include the Shiningbank area of Yellowhead County, the Town of Swan Hills, Fox Creek and the municipal district of Lesser Slave River.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says widespread showers and thunderstorms brought “much-needed” rain to western and central Alberta.

Over the past few days, widespread showers and thunderstorms brought much-needed rain to western and central Alberta.

Read the summary below for rainfall totals, and see the graphic produced by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/74UicfSM00

— ECCC Weather Alberta (@ECCCWeatherAB) May 24, 2023

Meanwhile, the province remains under a provincial state of emergency, with nine evacuation orders still in place.

There are 14 Alberta Emergency Alerts, and an estimated 6,852 people remain displaced from their homes.

This also comes as the Edmonton reception centre closed Tuesday, and the Calgary one will be ceasing operations Wednesday afternoon. Eight other reception centres remain open for affected areas.

Mental health resources are also available for people affected by the wildfires.

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Bre Hutchinson, executive director of provincial operations with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, says some communities are still under threat from wildfires, and local officials need to make sure critical infrastructure has been restored before people can return home.

“We know that all evacuees want to get home as quickly as possible,” she said during a news conference Wednesday. “Emergency officials are working hard to fight these fires, but the situation is extremely challenging, and safety is always their top priority.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, 65 wildfires are burning in Alberta, with 17 considered out of control. For 2023, 521 wildfires have burned more than 10,310 square kilometres of land in the province.

Christie Tucker with Alberta Wildfire said the province is welcoming a Hercules air tanker from California on Wednesday, which has the capacity to hold more than 11,350 litres of water.

This week, 325 firefighters from New Zealand and nearly 200 from Australia are also expected to arrive in Alberta to help fight the wildfires.

Meanwhile, there are 2,700 firefighters working to douse the flames in the province.

“The season isn’t over,” Tucker said. “We’re planning for what will be needed over the coming months to extinguish the large, complex wildfires that we’ve had this year.”

The government says that since the announcement of the one-time emergency financial assistance for evacuees, more than 14,600 applications have been processed.

Over $19.5 million in e-transfers has been sent to evacuees, and more than $6.3 million in debit cards has been distributed.