Nearly half of northern Alberta community destroyed as wildfires flare

As Albertans forced out by wildfires are being allowed to return home, other evacuees are learning their homes have been lost to the flames.

During what has proven to be a devastating wildfire season across western Canada, the remote community of Chipewyan Lake has been among the hardest hit in Alberta in terms of damage to infrastructure.

Close to half of the buildings in the small community, nestled in the boreal forests of northern Alberta about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton, have been destroyed.

A wildfire swept through the remote community last week, hours after it was evacuated.

Questions remain about how and when the community can rebuild, and where its 100 residents will live during the long recovery ahead.

Chipewyan Lake lost some of its most critical community buildings,