Bosbrand Slave Lake Alberta
Geplaatst: 20 mei 2011, 18:25
http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local ... nnipegHome
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will have a chance to see the devastation in Slave Lake in person on Friday, when he travels to the northern Alberta town where a wildfire recently razed an estimated one-third of its homes and businesses.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach will join Harper when he arrives in Slave Lake on Friday.
Residents of the Alberta town are now gradually getting information about what has been left behind by the blaze that prompted a mass evacuation that displaced nearly 7,000 people last weekend and left charred ruins in its wake.
Town officials released a detailed photographic map Thursday showing 374 lots that were destroyed in the fire, along with another 52 that were damaged. Another map of the nearby Municipal District of Lesser Slave River revealed 59 other lots that were destroyed, along with 32 that suffered fire damage.
Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said residents may be heartbroken to learn the fate of their homes and properties, but they need to know what happened.
"This is a very emotional undertaking for everyone involved," Pillay-Kinnee said Thursday as the maps were shown to people at evacuation centres in Athabasca, Westlock and Edmonton.
Courtney Murphy, a local radio news director, said the people of Slave Lake may be going though a tough time, but they have been touched by the support they have received in the days that have followed the fire.
"People are so overwhelmed with the outpouring of support that is coming from all over the world -- especially Alberta, people are opening their homes up to evacuees and whatnot," Murphy told CTV News Channel during a telephone interview from Edson, Alta., on Friday morning.
Repairs and rebuilds ahead
Officials say it will be weeks before residents with undamaged homes will be able to return to Slave Lake. Pillay-Kinnee said crews are working to repair electric and natural gas service to these residences, though hooking up a potable water supply will take a bit longer.
Many damaged houses will take months to repair, while it will take more than a year to rebuild homes that were destroyed.
The province is now working to get people living in evacuation centres into temporary accommodations and to help students who have been forced from school.
Housing Department spokesperson Dan Laville said the province will help residents find longer-term rental accommodation while they are waiting for their homes to be repaired or rebuilt. Residents who need short-term accommodations will be put up in hotels until they can return home.
The full details of the Housing Department's assistance plan are to be made public in the near future.
With files from The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will have a chance to see the devastation in Slave Lake in person on Friday, when he travels to the northern Alberta town where a wildfire recently razed an estimated one-third of its homes and businesses.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach will join Harper when he arrives in Slave Lake on Friday.
Residents of the Alberta town are now gradually getting information about what has been left behind by the blaze that prompted a mass evacuation that displaced nearly 7,000 people last weekend and left charred ruins in its wake.
Town officials released a detailed photographic map Thursday showing 374 lots that were destroyed in the fire, along with another 52 that were damaged. Another map of the nearby Municipal District of Lesser Slave River revealed 59 other lots that were destroyed, along with 32 that suffered fire damage.
Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said residents may be heartbroken to learn the fate of their homes and properties, but they need to know what happened.
"This is a very emotional undertaking for everyone involved," Pillay-Kinnee said Thursday as the maps were shown to people at evacuation centres in Athabasca, Westlock and Edmonton.
Courtney Murphy, a local radio news director, said the people of Slave Lake may be going though a tough time, but they have been touched by the support they have received in the days that have followed the fire.
"People are so overwhelmed with the outpouring of support that is coming from all over the world -- especially Alberta, people are opening their homes up to evacuees and whatnot," Murphy told CTV News Channel during a telephone interview from Edson, Alta., on Friday morning.
Repairs and rebuilds ahead
Officials say it will be weeks before residents with undamaged homes will be able to return to Slave Lake. Pillay-Kinnee said crews are working to repair electric and natural gas service to these residences, though hooking up a potable water supply will take a bit longer.
Many damaged houses will take months to repair, while it will take more than a year to rebuild homes that were destroyed.
The province is now working to get people living in evacuation centres into temporary accommodations and to help students who have been forced from school.
Housing Department spokesperson Dan Laville said the province will help residents find longer-term rental accommodation while they are waiting for their homes to be repaired or rebuilt. Residents who need short-term accommodations will be put up in hotels until they can return home.
The full details of the Housing Department's assistance plan are to be made public in the near future.
With files from The Canadian Press