Government lifts Fort McMurray wildfire province-wide state of emergency

The province has handed the keys back to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

The previously declared provincialstate of emergency has been lifted andWood Buffalo has initiated a state of local emergency, effectiveas of Canada Day, while rebuilding continues in the wake ofthe wildfire that forced the evacuation of more than 90,000 people from Fort McMurray and surrounding communitiesin early May.

For many, lifting the provincial state of emergencysignals a large step forward.

"While Fort McMurray is still on the path toward recovery, our government is encouraged by the significant progress the community has made to date," said Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee in a press release.

"We are confident that a provincial state of emergency is no longer required in order for the municipality to continue this important work. Alberta will continue to stand with the people of Fort McMurray as they rebuild their homes and community."

The province declared a state of emergency on May 4, a dayafterthe fire whichbecame known as "the Beast" swept into Fort McMurray.

It was the second time in Alberta's history that such actionhadbeen taken the first occurring duringthe 2013 Calgary floods.

The state of emergency allowed the province to take a centralized role, alongside the municipality, in combating the wildfire, organizing the evacuations and planning the re-entry process in early June.

'Alberta will continue to stand with the people of Fort McMurray as they rebuild their homes and community.'- DanielleLarivee

This allowed authoritiesto restrict movement and to do things normally out of their power, such as freezing residential rental pricingso people wouldn't be gouged by landlords.

Now, those powers arebeing shifted to the local authority.

In a release, the municipality says the localized state of emergency will allow the maintenance ofcertain powers to address the needs of the community. Italso allows the regional emergency operations centre to "continue supporting the community until the recovery committee is fully operational."

The releaseadds thatWood Buffalo residents "will see no change in the level of service or access that they receive."

Since the fire first hit, and the initial state of emergency declared, $94.5 million has been provided in wildfirerelief debit cards to evacuees. Residents of almost every neighbourhoodhave started toreturn home.

ATCOhas also restored gas to 91 per cent of eligible homes in the community.

Earlier in the week more good news came when advisories to boil water were lifted for many areas.

Alberta Health Services has confirmed water quality has been restored to safe levels in Gregoire, Mackenzie Park, Prairie Creek, Saline Creek, Saline Plateau, Saprae Creek Estates, and on the properties surrounding the Fort McMurray International Airport.

The hardest-hitareas of the city Beacon Hill, Abasand and Waterways all continue to haveboil water advisories.

A detailed map of the affected neighbourhoods is available here.