In May 2016, the unthinkable happened: a massive wildfire – later nicknamed “The Beast” – swept into Fort McMurray, Alberta, triggering the largest evacuation in the province’s history. Over 88,000 people fled, entire neighborhoods were reduced to ashes, and the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history was etched into memory.

Today, Fort McMurray isn’t just a story of survival — it’s a story of resilience, rebuilding, and reimagining how communities prepare for disaster.

In this episode of Critical Response: A Disaster Podcast, we sit down with Jody Butz, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Jody was on the frontlines during the wildfire as a key emergency responder and has since led transformational changes in how Fort McMurray approaches emergency management.

We dive into:

• What it was really like during those frantic first hours of the 2016 wildfire.
• The critical lessons learned from the evacuation and response.
• How Fort McMurray has rebuilt stronger, smarter, and more resilient.
• Major changes in emergency planning, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure.
• The evolving threat of climate change and what’s being done to prepare for a new reality.
• Jody’s leadership journey from firefighter to CAO, and his philosophy: “Never let a disaster go to waste.”

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes for a community to not just survive a disaster, but to emerge stronger — this conversation is for you.

Guest Bio:

Jody Butz is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, encompassing Fort McMurray and surrounding communities. With over 20 years of emergency services experience, Jody served as Operations Section Chief during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in leading the municipality’s recovery, modernization of emergency plans, and long-term resilience strategies. He believes in turning adversity into action and has championed initiatives that have made Wood Buffalo a national leader in disaster preparedness.

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Critical Response is a new podcast coming in May 2025, launching during Emergency Preparedness Week! Critical Response is a disaster management podcast exploring how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from crisis. Featuring expert interviews, field insights, and real-world stories—because when disaster strikes, response matters.