Firefighters from across Canada heading to Fort McMurray: Ralph Goodale
CBC News | Posted: May 7, 2016 6:28 PM | Last Updated: May 7, 2016
Goodale calls fire 'dangerous and unpredictable' while updating Fort McMurray situation Saturday
Dozens of firefighters from across Canada are flooding into Fort McMurray, Alta., to help contain the devastating wildfire.
Federal Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale held a news conference in Regina, Sask., Saturday to update the situation, which has forced the entire evacuation of the Alberta city.
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Goodale said the extra firefighters are providing much-needed relief.
"What we are trying to do with the cooperation of other provinces and territories is bring in rotations of other firefighters that can give them a break," Goodale said.
There is no official word if any Saskatchewan firefighters have joined the effort in Fort McMurray, but Goodale expects there are people from the province already assisting.
According to Goodale, 1,600 structures in Fort McMurray have been destroyed by fire.
"One would assume on this arithmetic, the majority of structures in Fort McMurray remain intact," he said. "But it's really too early to do any kind of an inventory."