Crisis & Recovery Facts & Figures
DISASTER TIMELINE | FACTS & FIGURES
- On May 14, two separate fires burned within the MD. A third fire would begin the next day.
- May 15, 100 kilometer-per-hour winds stirred up the fires, threatening lives and infrastructure.
- The Lesser Slave wildfires caused one of the largest displacements of residents in Alberta's history.
- A variety of local and interprovincial emergency personnel, as well as MD staff, Councillors and residents, helped combat the disaster.
- At the peak of the disaster there were more than 1,500 additional emergency workers in the area.
- This level of devastation has not been seen in Alberta since the fire of 1919 that destroyed a large portion of Lac La Biche and left 300 homeless.
- The crisis was designated a level four emergency; the highest possible designation that involves a sustained government-wide response.
- Collectively, the Lesser Slave wildfires consumed almost 22 thousand hectares.
- In total, almost 750 individuals and families in the area lost their homes.
- The total economic impact of the Lesser Slave River wildfires could exceed $1 billion.
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.
COMMUNITY IN ACTION
From within our borders to far flung towns and municipalities, assistance was offered from a variety of sources. Click here to discover how these everyday heroes have helped before, during and after the disaster.
EVACUATING RESIDENTS
Municipal workers tasked with initiating evacuation procedures had to walk a fine line between conveying the sense of urgency while remaining calm and not allowing panic to take root. Here's how it went down.
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.
Judy, Finance Administrator
Kelly, Human Resource Coordinator
Lana, Executive Assistant
INTERACTIVE MAP
Discover where the wildfires began and how they spread
