18: Fort Smith, One Year On

On August 12, 2023, Fort Smith was told to evacuate because of oncoming wildfires.

Everyone fled to Hay River – only for Hay River to be evacuated the following day. A weeks-long odyssey followed, with thousands of evacuees spread across Alberta.

Back in Smith, town councillor Dana Fergusson began providing regular video updates that became one of the main sources of information for the 3,000 or so people that call Fort Smith home.

She joined us exactly one year later to look back at the fires, the evacuation and what has happened since.