More than a dozen homes in a northern Alberta Metis community have been destroyed by an aggressive wildfire and there are concerns that more properties may be consumed.
“It’s like a burnt piece of toast up there,” said Blake Desjarlais of the Metis Settlements General Council, describing the fire’s path of destruction in Paddle Prairie, about 70 kilometres south of the town of High Level.
“The whole land has been scorched — traplines destroyed, waterways destroyed, people’s hunting cabins, fishing cabins, livestock assets.”
More than 10,000 people are out of their homes in the northern part of the province, with Trout Lake being the latest community to empty Friday morning.
But the first reports of destroyed homes has come from Paddle Prairie.
Desjarlais said that although the community itself is safe for now, at least 15 houses and two community structures have burned. Bison and cattle ranchers have also had to turn their animals loose.
Read more:
Evacuees told to head for Edmonton as northern Alberta wildfires burn out of control
Albertans flee their homes as fire crews battle wildfires near High Level, Edson
