Melissa Blake and Darby Allen named marshals of Edmonton's K-Days parade
The mayor and fire chief led 90,000 area residents through the Fort McMurray fire evacuation
Darby Allen and Melissa Blake, the fire chief and mayor of the Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality, have been named marshals of this year's K-Days parade in Edmonton.
Allen headed the emergency response to fight the massive wildfire he named "the beast" which forced the evacuation of 80,000 people on May 3.
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He became a national folk hero for his tireless work leading the firefighting efforts and his nightly video messages to residents that were posted on Twitter and Facebook.
On May 3, he broke down in tears on national television as he called that terrible Tuesday the "worst day of his career."
Blake also posted frequent updates for residents during the evacuation. She fled with her family to a work camp north of Fort McMurray as fire encroached on the city. She visited people who ended up in evacuee centres in Edmonton and other parts of the province.
The July 22 parade marks the start of the 10-day fair at Edmonton Northlands.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and fire Chief Ken Block will join Allen and Blake leading the parade.