'People are on edge': Lessons learned after 2023 wildfire and flood evacuations in Edson
People living in Edson were forced to flee their homes twice last spring.
"We refer to them as emergencies one, two and three," said Edson's Mayor, Kevin Zahara.
The town 195 kilometres west of Edmonton was evacuated twice due to wildfires, then was hit by flooding.
"We're approaching the one-year anniversary of what occurred in our community and it's very dry outside," Zahara said.
"People are on edge," he said, adding "we just cross our fingers that we don't have to face the same sort of situation."
But if they do, Zahara said the town is in a better position to deal with it.
The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
An 'after action report' was completed, which outlined things the municipality needed to work on.
Zahara said prior to the 2023 evacuations, none of the town's staff had any formal training to deal with emergencies.
"All of our staff now have some sort of training in incident command response, and we also have a number of employees that have advanced training now," he said.
Through donations from industry, he said the Edson Fire Department has more equipment to respond to wildfires this year.
"As well, we are in the process of procuring a structural protection unit for our fire department," said Zahara.
"It was actually in the budget last year prior to the wildfires, but unfortunately, we did not have it acquired in time."
Emergency social services training was also offered to volunteers in the event Edson becomes an evacuation location.
Through a grant, the town was also able to clear trees and debris to reduce wildifre risk.
Zahara said even residents are preparing for whatever this wildfire season brings.
"They have an emergency kit ready to go. There's others that have saved up funds, that are concerned they might have to be evacuated again and what kind of financial impact that's going to have on them," he said.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.