Skip to Content
Close Alert Banner

RMWB Logo RMWB Logo

  • Contact Pulse
  • Business, Planning and Development
    • Procurement
    • Business Services and Support
    • Development and Planning
    • Downtown Fort McMurray
    • Flood Mitigation
    • Maps
    • Permits and Resources
    • Public Notices
    • Safety Codes Permits
    • Waterfront Park Revitalization
  • Bylaw and Animal Services
    • Animal Services
    • Backyard Hens
    • Bylaws
    • Community Standards
    • Parking
    • Report an Issue
    • Automated Traffic Enforcement
    • Vehicle for Hire
  • Community Services and Social Support
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Grants and Funding
    • Responding to Homelessness
    • Seniors' Services and Programs
    • Social Support Services
    • Victim Services
  • Employment
    • Current Opportunities
    • Firefighter and Paramedic Recruitment
    • Human Resources
  • Events and Involvement
    • All That & More Podcast
    • Canada Day
    • Event Permits
    • Events
    • MACOY
    • Participate Wood Buffalo
    • WinterPLAY 2023
    • Wood Buffalo Volunteers
  • Fire, Police and Emergency Services
    • 9-1-1
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Fire Codes and Permits
    • Fire Departments
    • Fire Prevention and Safety
    • FireSmart
    • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • Vulnerable Persons Registry
  • Garbage, Recycling and Disposal
    • Garbage & Recycling Services
    • Landfill
    • Soil Disposal
  • Indigenous and Rural Communities
    • Anzac
    • Conklin
    • Draper
    • Fort Chipewyan
    • Fort Fitzgerald
    • Fort McKay
    • Fort McMurray
    • Gregoire Lake Estates
    • Janvier
    • Saprae Creek Estates
    • Rural Bus Schedules and Fees
  • Mayor, Council and Administration
    • Accountability and Transparency
    • Boards and Committees
    • Bylaws
    • Contact Us
    • Council
    • Elections
    • Mayor
    • Plans, Reports and Studies
    • Policies
    • Public Notices
  • Parks, Recreation and Heritage
    • Parks and Facilities Map
    • BearSmart
    • Cemeteries
    • Communities in Bloom
    • Community Cleanup
    • Community Gardens
    • Community Rinks
    • Culture, Heritage & Public Art
    • Facility Rentals
    • Off-Highway Vehicles
    • Parks, Trails and Green Spaces
    • Trees
    • Urban Wildlife
  • Property Taxes
    • Assessments
    • Change of Address Form
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Non-Profit Organization Tax Exemptions
    • Paying Property Taxes
    • Property Tax Sale
    • Rural Small Business Tax Class
    • School Support
    • Tax Rates
    • Tax Refund Requests
  • Roads and Construction
    • Automated Traffic Enforcement
    • Construction Map
    • Construction Projects
    • Draper Slope Stability Reports
    • Parking
    • Route/Haul Permits
    • Snow Plowing and Removal
    • Street Sweeping
    • Winter Roads
  • Transit
    • Advertising
    • Bike and Ride
    • Fares and Passes
    • Routes and Schedules
    • Rural Bus Schedules and Fees
    • Safety and Etiquette
    • School Transit Service
    • Specialized Transit
    • Statutory Holidays Schedule
    • Transit News and Alerts
    • Transit Data Feed
  • Truth and Reconciliation
    • Learn
    • Act
    • Calls to Action
  • Utilities and Water
    • Billing
    • Bulk Water
    • Change of Address Form
    • Commercial Services
    • Fat, Oil and Grease
    • Open or Close a Utility Account
    • Responsible Sewer Use
    • Rural Water & Sewer Service
    • Sewer Backups
    • Water Conservation
    • Water Metering
    • Water Quality
HomeFire, Police and Emergency ServicesEmergency PreparednessEmergency Management
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn Pinterest
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Wildfire Recovery

The 2016 Horse River wildfire was the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, forcing the evacuation of over 80,000 residents on May 3, 2016.

Aftermath

The wildfire destroyed or permanently damaged some 2,579 dwellings, most of them residential – accounting for about 10% of all homes in Fort McMurray. Properties in Anzac and some oil sands project accommodations were also destroyed as evacuations also impacted those areas. Unfortunately, two young people passed away in a motor vehicle accident the day after the initial evacuation.

Response

Supported by other government partners and first responders from across Alberta, Canada and around the world as well as industry, businesses and social profit organizations, the Municipality was able to create the conditions for the first stage of permanent re-entry to the community on June 1, 2016.

Costs

Overall, the 2016 wildfire resulted in an estimated $3.8 billion in insurable losses. Some studies showed the event led to an overall socioeconomic impact nearing $10 billion.

Recovery Task Force

Backed by the generosity of Canadians and Albertans and the support of the Canadian Red Cross, the community embarked on its recovery in the weeks following re-entry. Reporting directly to Council, this work was guided by the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee and led by the Recovery Task Force in collaboration with municipal departments, the Canadian Red Cross, industry, business and the social profit sector.

Recovery was focused on the following pillars: People, Rebuild, Environment, Economy and Mitigate. Recovery projects, programs and initiatives related to these five pillars and were supported by meaningful dialogue with the community. Overall, close to 100 ‘Here for You' public engagement sessions were held in support of recovery efforts in addition to 15 telephone town halls.

Timeline

Recovery is expected to take five years, although everyone who was impacted faces unique circumstances. As of January 2020, about 85% of wildfire rebuild dwellings were occupied as efforts to support residents in recovery continue at the Municipality and across the region.

2016 Wildfire Recovery Plan

  • Lessons Learned & Recommendations: 2016 Horse River Wildfire
Subscribe to page updates
Fire, Police and Emergency Services
  • 9-1-1
  • Emergency Medical Services
    Toggle Section Emergency Medical Services Menu
    • Firefighter and Paramedic Recruitment
    • Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) Program
  • Emergency Preparedness
    Toggle Section Emergency Preparedness Menu
    • Business Continuity
    • Emergency Management
    • Emergency Social Services
    • Evacuations and Shelter-in-Place
    • Hazards
      Toggle Section Hazards Menu
      • Power and water outages
      • River Breakup
        Toggle Section River Breakup Menu
        • Past River Breakup Dates
      • Severe Storms and Weather
      • Wildfires
  • Fire Codes and Permits
  • Fire Departments
    Toggle Section Fire Departments Menu
    • Firefighter and Paramedic Recruitment
  • Fire Prevention and Safety
    Toggle Section Fire Prevention and Safety Menu
    • Fire Prevention Week 2022
    • Home Fire Safety Program
  • FireSmart
    Toggle Section FireSmart Menu
    • FireSmart Projects
    • Home Assessment
    • Interpretive Trail
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    Toggle Section Royal Canadian Mounted Police Menu
    • Crime Map
    • Online Crime Reporting
  • Vulnerable Persons Registry

Contact us

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo - Jubilee Centre

9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 2K4

T. 780-743-7000

Email us

Map to this location

Services
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo footer logo

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 2K4

Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663

Subscribe to News

Stay up to date on RMWB news,
programs and operations
by subscribing to our news categories.

Subscribe

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Website Resources

  • Access to Information and Privacy
  • Logo Request Form
  • Sitemap
  • Social Media
  • Website Feedback

Copyright © .

By GHD Digital

Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.