The dense forest throughout Lesser Slave River adds to our region's rugged mystique. However, our most abundant natural asset can also pose a very real danger to lives, homes and livelihoods when wind direction, moisture codes and other variables conspire. In the early afternoon of Sunday, May 15, 2011, conditions for disaster to strike could not have aligned with more devastating precision.
Click the icons below to jump to the different areas in this section.
Disaster Timeline

Disaster Timeline

A chronology of the first few days.
Evacuation Efforts

Evacuation Efforts

Displacing thousands within days.
Joint Emergency Ops

Joint Emergency Ops

Working as one toward a common goal.
The Aftermath

The Aftermath

Finding our way through the wreckage.
First Person Accounts

First Person Accounts

Stories from those who were there.
Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

Insights on crisis and recovery.
A lot happened in the first few days I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the resourcefulness of the MD employees and elected officials during this catastrophic event. // MORE
Allan Winarski
Allan Winarski
Former CAO
I felt I was in a war zone, with auxiliary light, watching a resident plug in his ventilator in to help his breathing. Many people were in shock, not knowing what to do. // MORE
Darren Fulmore
Darren Fulmore
Former Councillor
In the parking lot we sat and watched and listened as the town burned, the sounds of the explosions were awful; we knew that each one meant something else was lost. // MORE
Annette kay
Annette kay
Administrative Assistant
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