Red Cross raises $299 million for Fort McMurray wildfire recovery effort

The Canadian Red Cross has raised $299 million for recovery efforts in Fort McMurray following the wildfire.

While individual Canadians donated $165 million,the federal and provincial governments added$104 million and $30 million in matching funds respectively.

"The Alberta wildfire was an unprecedented disaster, but the outpouring of support that came as a result brought hope along with it and quickly turned a devastating situation into Canada's moment to shine," said CEO Conrad Sauve.

"Canadians were touched by seeing fellow Canadians being evacuated ... and responded tremendously," he said. "We have got donations from every part of the country."

• Red Cross spending $165 million to help Fort McMurray fire evacuees
• Red Cross to help pay for Fort McMurray residents to return home
• Lack of Red Cross funding frustrates some Fort McMurray families

More than 2,600 Red Cross volunteers and staff worked to process donations from more than one million Canadians, he said.

So far, the Red Cross has allocated $146 million to individuals and families including $84.4 million in direct cash assistance for food, clothing, medical costs and transportation, Sauve said.

Sauve also announced the Red Cross will use $50 million to help Fort McMurray residents without insurance or with insufficientinsurance make rent or mortgage payments and replace furniture, appliances and household goods.

"The Red Cross we don't pass a judgment on why people need help," Sauve said. "We help those in need that is the humanitarian imperative of what we do."

Money will also be set aside to help residents with costs of building new homes, or repairing damages homes.

Community groups helping in therecovery, such as foodbanks,will get $50 million, while $30 million is available to small businesses for help with recovery.

Disaster preparedness programs will be funded with $12 million.

'Beginning of a long journey'

Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs Danielle Larivee said the province will use its matching fund to focus on three areas: community partnership grants for charitable non-profits, Indigenous and faith-based groups; small business relief; and post-disaster wellness support for residents.

"We know this is just the beginning of a long journey," she said.

Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake thanked the Red Cross for helping the community over the past three months, beginningwith the complex effort to relocate 88,000 people following the evacuation.

"The Red Cross was there with their incredible resources."

She saidher office receivedmoney from piggy banks and gotcheques from seniors living on fixed incomes to help with the recovery.

"To every individual who supported this cause, you have my undying gratitude," she said.

• Preliminary cost of Fort McMurray fire estimated at $615 million
• Fort McMurray campaign largest in Canadian Red Cross history

Blake also noted that Wednesday's news conference in Fort McMurraywas held exactlythree months to the hour after she receivedan update on the advancing wildfire.

"We knew we had a bad dayahead fighting fires, but we had no idea that we would be evacuating every living soul in Fort McMurray that day."

In June, the province announced the cost for fighting the massive fire was $615 million.