Evacuation Orders for Fort Chipewyan

Fort Chipewyan, May 30 (7:10pm) - Urgent updates have just been received regarding the rapidly evolving wildfire situation in Fort Chipewyan. The previously issued alert has now escalated to a full-fledged official evacuation order for the Hamlet of Fort Chipewyan, including the First Nation Reserves of Allison Bay and Dog Head.

In an effort to ensure everyone's safety, the evacuation process will be carried out strategically and meticulously over a span of 72 hours. We urge all residents to refer to the joint evacuation order for the entire Fort Chipewyan community.

The evacuation will be conducted in stages, commencing with the residents of Allison Bay, the community closest to the wildfire boundary. Families and individuals will be notified by their respective Nations or emergency officials via phone calls or door-to-door visits as soon as their neighborhood is deemed ready for evacuation. Limited flights are available for today, May 30.

However, if you reside outside of Allison Bay or if you are not considered vulnerable, we kindly request that you patiently await tomorrow's designated evacuation time and refrain from registering as an evacuee or leaving the community prematurely.

In light of the limited capacity at the airport, Fort Chipewyan's leadership urges all residents to remain calm and await further instructions. The phased evacuation approach has been implemented to ensure efficient use of available resources.

Priority for evacuation remains focused on vulnerable and elderly individuals. If you fall into this category, we strongly encourage you to register at the Archie Simpson Arena. Please note that it is vital not to proceed directly to the airport at this time.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide timely updates as necessary. Our thoughts and support go out to all the affected residents of Fort Chipewyan during this challenging time. Stay tuned for further developments.

For further information, visit the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website:

https://www.rmwb.ca/en/fire-and-emergency-services/fort-chipewyan-community-updates.aspx