Members of the Peace Regional RCMP assisted in the evacuation of 174 inmates from the Peace Regional Correctional Centre, and dozens of residents during a wildfire near Shaftsbury Trail and Bricks Hill on April 23rd.
According to police, officers immediately deployed and attended all homes directly affected by evacuation efforts.
Additionally, the RCMP requested assistance from the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Response Program, which saw Alberta Sheriffs and Fish and Wildlife officers deployed to assist police during the evacuation. Assistance was also provided by Alberta Forestry, Correctional Officers, and local fire departments.
Water bombers and helicopters were also deployed and helped with scene containment, evacuation efforts, fire suppression, and more.
As the blaze crept closer to the Peace Regional Correctional Centre, the local RCMP contacted the Peace River School Division, asking for buses to preemptively transport 174 inmates in the facility away from the fire danger.
The RCMP escorted transportation buses to RCMP detachments in Valleyview, High Prairie, Slave Lake, Lakeshore, and Spirit River where inmates were temporarily held until transfer could be made to other facilities in the province.
Residents are asked to avoid the affected areas as wildfire danger remains high in the region, and to protect their own safety and the safety of first responders.