Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen, who has been lauded for his leadership since the wildfire broke out nearly two weeks ago, announced Thursday that heâs no longer director of emergency management and will take a brief break from firefighting duties.
âIâm OK at putting out fires and getting people out, but the next phase is not mine,â Allen told reporters near Fort McMurray, Alta.
The announcement comes as officials prepare to restore municipal services, such as water and electricity, to the ravaged community. Teams of firefighters are still working to put out fire hotspots and flare-ups in and around the town, but the focus has largely shifted to restoring liveability.
Allenâs position will be passed to Bob Couture, executive director of community and protective services for the nearby community of Wood Buffalo, Alta.
Allen reflected on the crisis and thanked âeach and everyâ person involved in the townâs evacuation. He said the main thing heâll take away from the disaster is how 88,000 people were brought to safety.
âWeâve unfortunately found four deceased pets,â he said. âIf thatâs our statistics for our entire fire, bearing in mind two people lost their lives in a motor vehicle accident, I think thatâs incredible.â
As for his next steps, Allen said he plans to travel south to decompress for a few days.
âIâll be honest, I need a break, and Iâm going to spend time with my family and weâre going to hug a lot and Iâll have a couple of beers,â he said.
Allen also appeared to choke up at times, telling his wife and two adult sons that he loved and missed them. When he returns to Fort McMurray, he says he will âget on with being a fire chief again.â
But Allen stressed there is still âlots to be doneâ before residents can move home, even for those whose homes remain standing.
âWhether your house is in perfect condition, thatâs not really the issue right now. We have to make sure the community is sustainable for those who come back,â he said.
Danielle Larivee, Albertaâs minister of municipal affairs, said before residents can return, officials must still confirm that the wildfire, which ravaged parts of Fort McMurray last week, wonât pose a danger to the community again.
She also noted that essential services such as natural gas, water and sewage must be restored and officials must first ensure that a âclean, workingâ hospital is up and running before residents re-enter the community.
âYou have shown so much courage and resiliency but your safety is very important to us and your community is not safe,â Larivee said, addressing displaced residents directly. âAnd until it is, people cannot go home.â
Larivee later added that it is clear that âthis danger has not yet passed.â
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is expected to announce a "preliminary re-entry plan" within two weeks.
Larivee also said that the good news is that recovery efforts are underway, and power has been restored to the downtown area. Seven damage assessment teams are in the region, and have inspected 520 structures from the outside.
âWe are beginning to develop a clearer picture of exactly what we are doing in terms of damage,â Larivee said.
Meanwhile, officials on Thursday continued to distribute one-time emergency funds to residents displaced by the fire.