Fort McMurray continues to rebuild after last year’s wildfire
Posted February 25, 2017 11:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
FORT McMURRAY (NEWS 1130) – Government in Fort McMurray is urging people to apply for their building permits now, as it expects a bustling construction season.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is preparing for up to 800 structures to go up.
The post-wildfire rebuild has already started, but this is the first spring construction season since last year’s wildfire destroyed about 2,400 structures.
During peak hours in certain neighbourhoods, construction management teams will be on hand to work with homeowners and contractors along with bylaw and occupational health and safety officers.
“We do anticipate that there will be winter-builds even into next winter,” says Erin O’Neil with the municipality’s Recovery Task Force.
“Of those inspections that have been done for foundations — 266 — those would have started at some point over the winter build. It never really stops here, but it certainly slows down.”
Rebuild activities aren’t expected to slow down until October.
O’Neill says training programs are being developed in response to shortages for certain jobs, and they’re also hosting a job fair looking for potential employees.