SLAVE LAKE — More evacuees from Slave Lake got a look at the destruction of their homes from forest fires more than a week ago.
The Town of Slave Lake and the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River organized bus tours of the community on Monday and Tuesday.
The first bus on Tuesday left from the Athabasca reception centre at 8:30 a.m., another bus picked up residents from Concordia University in Edmonton at 9 a.m., while residents in Westlock left for the town around 2 p.m.
So far, the numbers have varied — on Monday, an afternoon bus leaving Athabasca had 47 people on it, but there was only one person on a bus leaving Edmonton on Tuesday.
Town and municipal district officials decided Tuesday to not continue the bus tours.
An Alberta government spokeswoman says officials made the decision because “the tours were successful and those who were interested have been accommodated.”
The province has extended the evacuation order for the town to Saturday, saying it would be unsafe for people to return until hot spots are extinguished, and every property has been inspected for possible gas leaks and other damage.
As of Tuesday, there were 42 forest fires burning in Alberta, with only four deemed out of control. Last week at this time, there were 100 fires burning and 23 were out of control.
Since the start of April, the province has recorded more than 400 wildfires, which have burned nearly 3,320 square kilometres.
An air quality advisory has been put in effect for northern Alberta due to the fires burning in the area. Alberta Health Services says anyone with respiratory issues should remain indoors, keep their windows shut and limit outdoor physical activity.
(CTV Edmonton, The Canadian Press)