Remembering aviation’s role in the evacuation of Fort McMurray

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AIn May 2016 a wildfire began in the northern Canadian city of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The fire swept through the community, forcing close to 90,000 people to evacuate the area. Many evacuees were transported by air in a massive humanitarian operation.

In the eight weeks it took to get the fire under control, it destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and businesses and was declared the costliest disaster in Canadian history. Indeed, months later, the city and its people are still recovering. WestJet, one of the airlines involved in the evacuation, recently held a special Christmas party called the “Snowflake Soiree” to demonstrate its continued support of the community.