Five Alberta civil servants who were instrumental in the province’s response to the Fort McMurray wildfire were guests in the Alberta Legislature Tuesday, where they received a lengthy standing ovation from members in the house.
“It’s really a privilege to see TV stars in our house and particularly TV stars who are heroes,” Speaker Bob Wanner said following the warm welcome.
“On behalf of all of the assembly, I think they would have stood for another 10 minutes had I let them. Thank you very much.”
The special guests included Chad Morrison, senior manager with Alberta Wildfire, Scott Long, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, Shane Schreiber, managing director of the AEMA, Bruce Mayer, assistant deputy minister in the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Sonya Perkins, director of emergency social services.
READ MORE: Heroic measures praised during the Fort McMurray hospital evacuation
Premier Rachel Notley introduced each member individually, congratulating them on their incredible efforts which earned Alberta international recognition.
“Alberta is blessed with an extraordinary public service; women and men who have devoted their careers to making Alberta a better province,” Notley said.
“Experts in their field, they went above and beyond their call of duty.”
READ MORE: ‘I want us to recognize the true heroes’: Fire chief shares stories of heroism from Fort McMurray
The recognition came one day after the operations level at the Emergency Operations Centre in Edmonton was dropped from the level of four to a three.
“This by no means, of course, means that the work is over or that the work is any less urgent,” Notley said. “But what it does mean is that as a province we are moving out of the emergency response phase of the Fort McMurray fire.”
As of Monday evening, the Fort McMurray wildfire was 70 per cent contained, although it was still listed as out of control.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Blaze now 70% contained, Suncor to ramp up production
The voluntary, phased re-entry into Fort McMurray is ongoing. On Wednesday, residents who live in the restricted neighbourhoods of Waterways, Beacon Hill and Abasand will have the opportunity to visit their homes. The three areas have been uninhabitable due to toxins.