RMWB offers Jasper lessons from 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire

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Mayor Sandy Bowman has offered to share with Jasper’s leadership Fort McMurray’s experiences following the 2016 Horse River Wildfire.

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In a statement, Bowman said the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) can offer Jasper feedback and lessons on recovery, re-entry, rebuild plans, damage assessments, sifting through debris for personal items, security, communications and business continuity.

“During Fort McMurray’s wildfire recovery, some of the most helpful advice we received was from the Community of Slave Lake, sharing their expertise and experiences,” said Bowman, adding he spoke with Mayor Richard Ireland of Jasper on Thursday. “Offering that same support to Jasper is the least we can do.”

Of the 1,113 structures in the Town of Jasper, the wildfire destroyed 358 buildings. Ireland is one of many residents who lost his home. Ireland was happy 70 per cent of structures in town were relatively unscathed. Major infrastructure, such as schools and the wastewater treatment plant, also survived.

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But on an individual level, Ireland said this was meaningless — a sentiment he said other residents may share as they find their own homes burned.

“There are hundreds of houses, and whole neighbourhoods, gone,” said Ireland after touring Jasper on July 26. “I had a glimmer of hope. We came to the streetcorner and saw the foundation — charred remains. The first floor had collapsed.”

The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation is encouraging people to donate to the Northern Alberta Resiliency Fund. The fund will focus on rebuild efforts on areas not covered by governments. The Edmonton Community Foundation is matching all donations to the fund up to $100,000.

The Alberta and federal governments will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross’ Alberta Wildfires Appeal.

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“We stand with Jasper, ready to support in any way possible,” said Bowman. “We know that the road ahead for Jasperites will be long, and we are committed to supporting them until everyone has returned home.”

The RMWB is also organizing a “Show your love for Jasper” campaign. People, organizations and businesses are being asked to create video messages and handmade drawings of hope and encouragement for Jasperites.

Handmade drawings will be part of a fence banner hanging in Jasper’s rebuild areas. The RMWB is providing coloured paper for a consistent look and feel for the wrap. It can be picked up at MacDonald Island Park, the Jubilee Building, The Hub at Shell Place, the Anzac Recreation Centre and the Oil Sands Discovery Centre.

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Video messages should be one sentence and roughly five to 10 seconds long. It should be filmed sideways in landscape mode. Submissions should be in MP4 format.

Information on uploading video messages and submission guidelines are online at the RMWB’s website. Drawings should be submitted by Aug. 11 and videos uploaded to the RMWB by Aug. 5. Questions can also be asked by contacting the Pulse Line at 780-743-7000.

-with reporting from Zac Delaney

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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