Chipewyan Lake Devastated by Wildfire; Nearly Half of Community Destroyed
Chipewyan Lake, The Gulf Observer: As some Albertans return home following wildfire evacuations, residents of Chipewyan Lake are grappling with the heartbreaking reality that much of their community has been reduced to ash.
The remote community, located roughly 450 kilometres north of Edmonton, has emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas in Alberta’s ongoing and destructive wildfire season. According to local emergency officials from Bigstone Cree Nation and the Municipal District (MD) of Opportunity No. 17, close to half of Chipewyan Lake’s buildings have been destroyed.
An aerial assessment completed by forestry officials on June 1 revealed that 38 structures and nine sheds were completely lost, with an additional 10 buildings sustaining damage. Only 38 structures were left standing. Among the destroyed infrastructure are key community facilities, including the Bigstone Health Centre, a local church, the water treatment plant, and numerous homes and storage buildings.
“The information is still not 100 per cent accurate until we have a boots-on-the-ground assessment completed,” said Marcel Auger, reeve of the MD of Opportunity. Ground surveys began Tuesday to determine the full extent of the damage. “We will need to complete assessments of the community. We will also need to conduct a major cleanup and rebuild damaged infrastructure.”
The wildfire tore through Chipewyan Lake on the evening of May 29, shortly after the community’s evacuation. The flames overtook the only access road and raged through the heart of the town, forcing eight firefighters to shelter overnight in a school and fire hall after their radios failed and downed trees blocked escape routes. They were rescued the following day.
An aerial damage map released Wednesday shows the fire’s path through the community, with red markers indicating total structural losses, particularly in areas along the southwest edge of the lake.
Chief Andy Alook of Bigstone Cree Nation, which includes the communities of Chipewyan Lake, Calling Lake, and Wabasca, assured residents that rebuilding efforts are underway. “Our governments are committed to rebuilding the community of Chipewyan Lake,” Alook stated. “We are lobbying both the federal and provincial governments to support the efforts.”
With around 100 residents displaced and the community’s future uncertain, questions remain about how long recovery will take and where residents will live in the interim. But local leaders are united in their resolve to restore and revive Chipewyan Lake.
