EDMONTON - The federal and Alberta governments hope new research will help them understand how the Fort McMurray wildfire is affecting the physical and emotional health of people who were forced from their homes or stayed behind to deal with the disaster.
The governments are asking researchers to apply for grants to study how the massive fire and evacuation affected the mental health of adults and children, including addictions.
There will also be money to look at post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders and cleanup workers and the effects of smoke and air pollution on respiratory health.
Other researchers are to study how the wildfires affected indigenous people and health care and emergency systems.
The Canadian Institutes for Health Research says the two-year projects are to be selected in October and begin in November
The governments and the Canadian Red Cross have pledged $3 million for the program.
