Calgary 
Canadians who wish to support the relief efforts due to wildfires in Alberta can donate to the Canadian Red Cross 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal, and their contribution will be tripled through a matching program by the federal and provincial governments.
In a united response to the devastating wildfires in Alberta, the federal and provincial governments have launched a donation matching program with the Canadian Red Cross.
Under this program, both governments will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal, effectively tripling the value of each donation. This means that for every $1 donated, it will become $3 in aid.
The program will support disaster relief efforts in Alberta communities severely affected by the wildfires.
The Canadian Red Cross will allocate the funds to provide a range of emergency services to individuals and communities in need. These services may include financial assistance for immediate unmet needs, support for community organizations, and essential services that are not covered by existing federal or provincial programs.
Those wishing to make a financial donation to the 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal can do so online at redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.
For evacuation information, Albertans are encouraged to visit the Alberta Emergency website or download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app. Evacuees are urged to register at local reception centers or online.
Alberta is providing emergency financial assistance of $1,250 per adult and an additional $500 per dependent child under 18 years for residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes due to ongoing wildfires.
Currently, the total number of people evacuated is as follows:
- Beaver First Nation: 180 people
- Brazeau County (and Drayton Valley): 7,200 people
- East Prairie Metis Settlement: 300 people
- Fox Creek: 1,753 people
- Gift Lake Metis Settlement: under evacuation alert
- County of Grande Prairie: 240 people (evacuation order) and additional residents under evacuation alert
- Lac Ste Anne: 160 people (evacuation order) and additional residents under evacuation alert
- Little Red River Cree Nation (Fox Lake): 3,468 people
- O’Chiese First Nation: 77 people (evacuation order), with the remainder on evacuation alert
- Rainbow Lake: Under evacuation order
- Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation / MD of Greenview: 1,600 people
- Whitefish Lake First Nation: 740 people
- Yellowhead County: 9,270 people
Persisting hot, dry conditions across the province have led to multiple wildfires, triggering a provincial state of emergency. Environment Canada has issued an alert warning of unseasonably hot and dry conditions starting this weekend, with temperatures expected to peak from Sunday through Tuesday, reaching high 20s to low 30s during the day and dropping to the low teens overnight. This significant heat increase, about 10 to 15 degrees C above seasonal averages, may further aid the raging wildfires.
