Wildfires are seen some 16 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, Alberta on highway 63 on Friday, May 6, 2016.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
May 09, 2016 - 4:16 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - RCMP members from Kelowna and Vernon will be headed to Alberta to help with the Fort McMurray wildfire this week.
Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says Interior RCMP will be sending resources to help with the massive blaze that has displaced tens of thousands and destroyed more than 1,600 structures.
RCMP will be sending O'Donaghey and Vernon RCMP media spokesperson Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy, but more officers will be likely be sent from detachments in the Southern Interior.
Cpl. Dan Moskaluk of 'E' Division has promised a comprehensive list by the end of the day detailing the personnel and equipment the RCMP will be sending.
"I have learned today that I am being deployed in a media relations capacity to northern Alberta to assist our partners battling the Fort McMurray wild fire," O'Donaghey says in a release sent to Kelowna media. "I will be away for the remainder of this week into next week."
Vernon media received a similar release from Noseworthy.
The fire in Fort McMurray remains uncontained and has so far forced roughly 80,000 residents from the city following a mandatory evacuation order last Tuesday.
Officials have estimated at least 1,600 homes burned and that number is expected to be updated today.
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