Canadian Military Evacuates Residents, Pets as Fire Threatens Alberta Community

Canada’s military was airlifting people and their pets from a remote community threatened by a wildfire burning north of Fort McMurray in Alberta, Global News reported on May 31.

Footage streamed live by Hazel Mercredi shows dogs in Fort McMurray that had been evacuated from Fort Chipewyan, which Global News said was home to around 1,000 people, and accessible only by plane or boat in the summer and by an ice road in the winter.

According to CBC, the evacuation was carried out in stages by air and by river, with some residents being flown to Fort McMurray and others travelling by boat along the Athabasca River. Credit: Hazel Mercredi via Storyful

Video transcript

- Two dogs that just came in. Who's dogs?

- Cardinal.

- Cardinal?

- Lisa Cardinal.

- Thank you.

- Lisa. Lisa Cardinal-- Lisa, your dogs are here.

- I'll call her.

- Two dogs that just came in. Who's dogs.

- Lisa Cardinal.

- Cardinal?

- Lisa Cardinal.

- Thank you.

- Lisa. Lisa Cardinal-- Lisa, your dogs are here.

- I'll call her.