174 inmates removed from northern Alberta jail because of nearby wildfire
Dozens of inmates were transported from a northern Alberta correctional centre earlier this week because of a wildfire.
An evacuation order was issued for residents living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River on Tuesday.
Police say because of the proximity of the fire to the Peace Regional Correctional Centre, the decision was made to proactively transport 174 inmates at the facility to safety.
Officials contacted the Peace River School Division, who provided buses and drivers to move the inmates.
The buses were escorted by Mounties to various RCMP detachments, including Peace Regional, Valleyview, High Prairie, Slave Lake, Lakeshore, Spirit River, where the inmates were held until arrangements could be made to transport them to other remand centres in the province.
The RCMP also provided members to guard prisoners if correctional officers were unable to do so.
An emergency alert related to the fire was cancelled at 5:16 p.m. on Wednesday, and residents began returning home on Thursday morning.
CTV News Edmonton has reached out to RCMP for more information about a return plan for the inmates.
The Municipal District of Peace is about 520 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.