Be Informed: The town reduced to ashes: Aerial photos show the scale of devastation in Canadian town consumed by wildfire as Trudeau lands to see the destruction for himself

Saturday 14 May 2016

The town reduced to ashes: Aerial photos show the scale of devastation in Canadian town consumed by wildfire as Trudeau lands to see the destruction for himself

By Ollie Gillman For Be informed and Reuters00:39 14 May 2016, updated 06:20 14 May 2016

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to rebuild a town that has been ravaged by the wildfires in Alberta as he toured entire neighborhoods leveled by the out-of-control inferno.

Trudeau was taken around Fort McMurray by fire officials after a helicopter fly-over of the region, which has been evacuated by 88,000 people.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured with Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen) toured entire neighborhoods leveled by the Alberta wildfires

The still-raging blaze has torn its way through 241,000 hectares (596,000 acres) of woodland and towns in Alberta and continues to grow, albeit at a slower rate.

The fire is likely to cost insurers upwards of C$6billion ($4.7billion), but Trudeau promised that the federal government would pour money into rebuilding Fort McMurray and other affected towns.

Trudeau was taken around Fort McMurray after a helicopter fly-over of the region, which has been evacuated by 88,000 people

The inferno closed the extensive oil sands operations nearthe town and the effort to restart them is progressing slowly.The wildfire knocked out nearly half, or 1.07million barrelsper day, of Alberta's oil sands capacity.

'To the people of Fort McMurray: Know that even thoughthings may look difficult and uncertain and at times perhapsalmost hopeless, know that you are not alone. Canadians arestanding with you,' Trudeau said.

'There will be significant federal monies invested in thatcommunity as we rebuild,' he added.

Ottawa runs a fund to help provinces recover from disastersand could end up paying 90 per cent of all eligible costs.Trudeau said the government would try to ensure the money waspaid out more quickly than usual.

After the aerial tour, he was briefed on progress fightingthe fire, which has moved east of Fort McMurray into lessinhabited areas, and praised emergency officials for their'valor and courage' in preserving much of the town.

'The work you did to save so much of this community, to saveso much of this city and its downtown core ... wasunbelievable,' he said.

Trudeau has faced criticism in Alberta, a province that doesnot usually vote for his party, for waiting more than a week tosurvey the damage. He initially stressed he did not want hisvisit to interfere with firefighting efforts.

'I think it's a good thing he's coming,' said Fort McMurrayhousekeeper Maureen Pearce at a supply center for evacuees inLac La Biche, Alberta. 'I hope he provides more aid.'

Many of the evacuees are living in temporary accommodationacross the province, while authorities work to restore power,gas, water and communications.

Local officials say it will be 10 days before they can evenproduce a plan for resettlement as a number of small fires are still erupting.

Rebuilding Fort McMurray 'is the work of years,' AlbertaPremier Rachel Notley said.

Evacuees are collecting Alberta debit cards loaded withC$1,250 ($966) per adult and C$500 ($386) per dependent, as well as CanadianRed Cross aid of C$600 ($464) for each adult and C$300 ($232) for each child.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured entire neighborhoods wiped out by the wildfires in Alberta
He was taken to Fort McMurray, which was ravaged by inferno that has torn through 241,000 hectares of woodland
Trudeau vowed to pledge huge sums of money to rebuild the town and surrounding villages destroyed by the blaze
Experts say the fires may have caused C$6billion ($4.7billion) in damage and 88,000 have been evacuated
Officials warned it could be weeks before people can move back home, if their houses are still standing