Conflicting reports are coming out of Northern Alberta this morning. Initially CTV News had reported some homes in Paddle Prarie, 7o kilometres south of High Level had burned. The ChuckKegg fire is the same one that has pushed over 4000 people from High Level, Meander River, Bushe River and Chateh from their homes.
The story was solely based on a Facebook post from vice chair of the Métis settlement of Paddle Prairie, Lori Wanuch.
“We can only hope and pray that we have some homes still standing in the morning 🙏🏻 if we were properly notified we would have done our very best to continue to protect our homes , unfortunately no warning ⚠️ this is unfair, unjust treatment of the Metis people! Once again forgotten,” Wanuch wrote in her first post.
That post is no longer visible on social media, however Wanuch posted this update from Grande Prairie where community members gathered after the evacuation order was issued yesterday.
Hot, dry conditions and gusty winds have led to what fire watchers call a red-flag warning across northern Alberta’s forest as more people were forced from their homes.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued late Wednesday for the Hamlet of Wabasca and the Bigstone Cree Nation in the Slave Lake forest area.
People were urged to gather at the community of Calling Lake.