Slave Lake Fire Canada's Second Most Costly Disaster

Insurance claims in the northern Alberta city surpass $700 million for damages incurred during the wildfire.

The wildfire that destroyed a third of the town of Slave Lake, Alta., was the second most costly disaster in Canadian history, with insurance claims for damaged property surpassing $700 million. While the May 15 wildfire didn't kill or even injure anyone, it prompted a full evacuation of Slave Lake, emptying it of its 7,000 residents as the fire swept through the town, destroying a school, hundreds of homes, businesses, and a radio station. The ice storm of 1998 that paralyzed Quebec and much of Ontario still reigns supreme, though, with a cost of some $1.8 billion. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, are to visit the recovering city today.