Fort McMurray gets extra $20M to cover wildfire fighting, clean-up costs

Fort McMurray's municipal government has been given another $20 million to cover wildfire related costs.

Municipal Affairs Shaye Anderson announced the new money Thursday ata news conference in Alberta's oilsands city.

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The money comes from the Disaster Recovery Program, a provincial program that helps individuals and municipalities withuninsuredexpenses. The municipality will use the money to pay costs related to last May's wildfire.

"This funding means they can focus on the recovery without shouldering a heavy financial burden," Anderson said.

The province advanced $87.5 million in disaster funding to Fort McMurray in 2016

Anderson said demolition and clean up are nearly complete in fire-ravagedareas, and the municipality has issued more than 430 development permits.

About 100 homes are currently under construction.

The $3.6-billion Fort McMurray wildfire was one of the costliest insured disasters in Canadian history.

The fire, still smoldering in some places,covered 589,552 hectares and devoured more than 2,400 homes and buildings.

The flames forced 90,000 people from their homes last May.

'It's not a whole lot'

So far, the municipality has received more than $107 million from the province for wildfire costs.

The total amount themunicipality has spent won't be available until the end of March, when Wood Buffalo will presentits fourth-quarter 2016 financial update,spokesperson Robin Smith said in an email statement.

During the last update in September 2016, the municipality's finance department said it had spent$99,687,552 on wildfire-related expenses.

At Thursday's press conference, Mayor Melissa Blake said she was grateful for the $107.5 million the municipality has received. But more will be needed to help with future costs.

"It's not a whole lot," Blake said."We know that there is more work to be done, and this isn't the end of the workfor us."

Blake said the municipality took out a $50-million line of credit while it waited for thepromised money.

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