Crisis & Recovery Animal Rescue
EVACUATION EFFORTS | ANIMAL RESCUE
Of the seven thousand people who were forced to leave their homes, many thought they would be inconvenienced by a day, perhaps three at most. When reality set in and it became apparent that a homecoming of any kind was weeks away at best, Animal Rescue was tasked with locating and rescuing pets left behind in the panic, and livestock left with no means of survival.
The morning after fires swept through the MD, Animal Rescue Center members began combing the area. A temporary holding facility was set up at the town maintenance building. In the days that followed, ARC's ranks were bolstered with more volunteers, and the Edmonton Humane Society was dispatched to the area to assist.
A dispatch number was set up and publically advertised to enable displaced pet owners to report any animals that were left behind. In the span of six days, the ARC rescued more than 300 animals left behind during the evacuation. Although the initial search was for cats and dogs, ARC's animal roster soon included many other species, including hamsters, birds, snakes, lizards and gerbils. ARC was successful in relocating the all of the animals it rescued in the weeks following the disaster, including some animals believed to be strays.
ROYALS TOUR RUINS
Halfway through a cross-Canada junket, newlyweds Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge flew to the fire-ravaged region to speak with first responders and console those who lost their homes to the flames.
ORIGINS OF DISASTER
In Late October 2011, arson was revealed as the only possible cause of the fires that wrought such havoc on the Lesser Slave River region. This interactive map illustrates where and when these devastating wildfires began.
PICKING UP THE PIECES
The smoke has cleared and the fires extinguished, but the real work is now before us. What lessons have we learned from this tragedy, and what are we doing to repair the lives and livelihoods of those affected?
FIRE WEATHER INDEX
CRISIS PRESENTATION
View an immersive presentation on the spring 2011 wildfires.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Listen to the personal accounts of those who weathered the fires.
Darren, Councillor
Kelly, Human Resource Coordinator
Tom, Landfill Manager
INTERACTIVE MAP
Discover where the wildfires began and how they spread
