Slave Lake Fire Updates

May 26, 2011

Athabasca University is working with the Athabasca region emergency services to provide support to residents of Slave Lake who have been displaced by the devastating fires last weekend.

To keep the AU community informed about the latest developments in this emergency, the university is providing daily updates on this webpage. Please also note the standing information below.

How to Help

• Donate via Athabasca County
  Athabasca County is accepting cash donations 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the front desk of their main administration building. Tax receipts will be issued. Call 780-675-2273 and select 0.
• Donate via Morinville Chamber of Commerce
  The Morinville and District Chamber of Commerce is accepting cash donations to aid the Slave Lake business community.
  Call Jaye Parrent, manager, at 780-939-9462.

For More Information

• Government of Alberta: 310-4455 (toll-free)
  Call this number for information about wildfires, highway closures, phone numbers, and websites with more information.
• Red Cross: 1-800-565-4483
• Alberta Health Services: 1-866-301-2668
  This number is for family members looking for information on where medical patients have been moved.
• Information for Students Affected by Wildfires
  Alberta Education has set up this website.
• Alberta Wildfire Info on Facebook
• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
  Wildfire status updates and reports are available here.

 

Updates

May 30, 2011

Final Slave Lake fire update

Late last week the Slave Lake fire evacuees were given permission by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Slave Lake to return to their community through a phased re-entry schedule. As a result of this announcement, the Athabasca Multiplex is no longer being used as an evacuee reception centre.

The Internet Cyber Cafe has been shut down and the Athabasca University boardrooms that had been used to provide schooling space for the Slave Lake students have been returned to their original purposes.

The evacuees who were staying in RVs and travel trailers in the university parking lot have also returned to Slave Lake and the lot is available for staff and visitor parking.

Everyone's help, support and patience throughout this trying time have been appreciated. We would like to take this opportunity to pass on to our Slave Lake neighbours all of our heartfelt support as they begin re-building their community.

 

May 26, 2011

Phased re-entry into Slave Lake and area starts today. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Slave Lake has determined that a phased re-entry into the community can commence. The Athabasca Multiplex, which has been used as an evacuee reception and information centre will be vacated over the course of the next several days.

As a result, Athabasca University's Convocation will commence as originally planned at the Athabasca Multiplex on June 9-11. Plans are moving forward to ensure that convocation continues to be AU's showcase event.

For further information on the phased re-entry, please visit:

http://www.alberta.ca//acn/201105/3053528933747-0089-58C9-EF9D307E5E514253.html

 

May 24, 2011

The number of evacuees at the Athabasca Multiplex reception centre this past long weekend was 27 with another 130 staying onsite in RVs being accommodated in the Athabasca University parking lot. Over 600 displaced evacuees that are located in the Athabasca region are being fed daily at the reception centre.

Please do not drop off donated items at the Athabasca Multiplex reception centre, however cash donations are welcome.

Volunteers are needed in all areas. If you are able to volunteer your time to the Slave Lake support effort, please drop in to the volunteer desk at the Athabasca Multiplex (2 University Drive) and sign up for a shift. Any help is very much appreciated.

For the latest information on the fire situation, please visit the Government of Alberta website at http://alberta.ca/home/index.cfm

May 20, 2011

The number of evacuees at the Athabasca reception centre is down from approximately 2000 on Monday to just over 100 plus an additional 50 RVs being accommodated in the Athabasca University parking lot. As of May 19, Housing and Canadian Red Cross officials are onsite at the Edmonton, Athabasca and Westlock reception centres to help displaced residents find more comfortable, interim accommodation.

CBC Radio-Canada is onsite at Athabasca University today reporting on the Slave Lake situation.

With the Victoria Day weekend upon us, Athabasca University has been asked to help out with a call for some additional volunteers to work through the long weekend. If you are able to volunteer your time to the Slave Lake support effort, please drop in to the volunteer desk at the Athabasca Multiplex and sign up for a shift. Any help is very much appreciated.

May 19, 2011

Maps outlining the Slave Lake fire damage - released as of today.

May 18, 2011

• Athabasca is 115 kilometres south of Slave Lake. There is no threat to the town or the university.
• The Athabasca Regional Multiplex has been designated an emergency evacuation centre. It's now housing several hundred evacuees from the Slave Lake area.
• The university has made RV parking available at the main campus in Athabasca for those who have been displaced.
• The university is also providing overflow parking at the Tim Byrne Centre in Athabasca.
• At the main campus, evacuees can access Internet and telephone services and washrooms/showers during the day.
• Approximately 1,000 students have been displaced. This morning AU was able to repurpose some boardroom space to accommodate 45 students who are being taught by evacuated district teachers and staff. A classroom schedule is being developed to facilitate the teaching sessions.
• AU is proceeding with Convocation (June 9-11) as previously planned. However, we are developing contingency plans in case it becomes necessary to hold convocation events outside the multiplex. We will inform everyone of these plans as necessary.

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Updated August 21, 2012