21 May 2011

Fire scene toured by PM

3:13 pm on 21 May 2011

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has toured a town ravaged by wildfires this week.

He flew over Slave Lake in a helicopter with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.

The BBC reports the fires have destroyed 433 properties in Slave Lake and the surrounding area, from which 7000 people have been evacuated.

The provincial government has pledged $C50 million ($US51.3 million) in aid for the evacuees.

Slave Lake is about 210km north-west of Edmonton, Alberta's capital.