RCMP to Escort Northern Evacuees Through and Out of the City

Fort McMurray, AB – This morning, at 0600 hrs the Unified Command of the Emergency Operations Centre in Fort McMurray directed the RCMP to begin a southbound planned movement of vehicles and people who had been staged at the north side of the City of Fort McMurray since the state of emergency began, 4 days ago. The RCMP is escorting vehicle packages of 50 vehicles at a time, south through the City on Highway 63 a distance of about 20 km south and then releasing the convoy. At that point another convoy of 50 cars will begin.

The RCMP will be marshaling this movement with pilot cars at the front and rear, with overhead air monitoring from RCMP in DND Griffin helicopters. The escort will ensure all intersections along the escort within the City are controlled by RCMP personnel to ensure no vehicles or persons become detached from the convoy. It is the intention of the Unified Command that if weather, fire and road conditions remain favourable, all the estimated 1500 vehicles will be moved through and out of the City today. It is not known at this time how long the movement will take to accomplish.

This planned movement should become visible to the media at about the intersection of Highways 63 and 881. Vehicles in the convoy will not be permitted to stop at any time in the convoy and once released by the RCMP from the convoy, it is the intention of the Unified Command of the Emergency Operations Centre in Fort McMurray to not allow any obstacle or persons or event to stop or hinder the progress of the evacuees until they reach the Edmonton area. Unified Command asks that all persons and media respect this intention to keep the convoy moving in the interests of getting these people, who have been isolated on the north side of Fort McMurray for four days, to a safe location where their basic needs can be met.

The media will be permitted to cover the movement of these evacuees once released by the RCMP, as long as it does not stop or hinder the progress of the vehicles and people toward Edmonton.