Fort McMurray marks one year since fires hit city
Posted May 3, 2017 04:55:41 AM.
Last Updated May 3, 2017 05:03:42 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Fort McMurray residents are marking a year since a ferocious wildfire swept into the northern Alberta city.
A low-key, dawn-to-dusk event that includes yoga, dance, art and meditation is planned at a riverfront park.
The fire that started deep in the bush on May 1st of last year blew up two days later and forced the evacuation of the entire city.
It was nicknamed “the beast” because it was so fierce and unpredictable.
The majority of Fort McMurray was spared, but the flames consumed about 16-hundred structures.
That amounted to nearly 26-hundred dwelling units, which were mostly residential.
The municipality says as of last week, 652 rebuild permits have been approved.
In early April, almost three dozen families had moved into new homes.
