Wildfire forces residents of remote Alberta hamlet to evacuate by boat and plane
CBC
Efforts to evacuate Fort Chipewyan, a northeastern Alberta community threatened by wildfire, are being hampered by the hamlet's isolated location.
About 1,000 people who live in Fort Chip, 300 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray, were told Tuesday to leave their homes but getting everyone out will take time.
In the summer months, after the ice road melts, the hamlet is accessible only by plane or boat.
The evacuation is being done in stages by air and by river. Some people are being flown out to Fort McMurray. Others are travelling by boat, south along the Athabasca River.
The evacuation effort started with residents in Allison Bay, which is closest to the wildfire's boundary.
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said that by Tuesday evening, about 500 people had been evacuated from Fort Chipewyan.
He said all planes in the area were temporarily grounded Tuesday because of poor visibility.
Adam urged residents to remain calm and said additional air transportation was en route to the community. Remaining residents are expected to be transported out of Fort Chipewyan Wednesday.
"I want to thank everyone for the great work today. Thank you for the co-operation," Adam said in a video posted to social media.
"We stuck together and we stayed calm and we looked out for one another. We just need to do this at the same time tomorrow and we will get all out to safety."
As of Tuesday evening, the fire was burning about 13 kilometres from Fort Chipewyan but only four kilometres from Allison Bay, which is home to around 125 people.
First spotted on Sunday, the fire — believed to have been sparked by lightning — has already destroyed an estimated 3,000 hectares.
Officials with Alberta Wildfire said it is considered the No. 1 priority wildfire in the province and that additional crews were being dispatched to the front lines Wednesday. .
Adam said a series of private and corporate charters, including a Hercules, will be involved in transporting residents to Fort McMurray.
