Filipino temporary residents in Swan Hills share concerns about wildfire’s impact on jobs and status

Waiting at a food bank in Whitecourt to stock up on necessities has become routine for many Filipino temporary residents of Swan Hills over the past three days, following an evacuation order issued by authorities due to a rapidly spreading wildfire near the northern Alberta town.

“The first thing I felt was really panic and anxiety, and I just kept praying that God would protect us because it’s a small town,” says Djhoanna Tolentino, a Filipino work permit holder living in Swan Hills.

With the wildfire halting many jobs, she’s concerned about its impact on temporary workers.

“Our company follows a no work, no pay policy, so if the fire lasts longer, we will be affected financially,” she says.

The situation is reminiscent of what foreign workers in Jasper experienced in 2024, when wildfires and thick black smoke blanketed the town—a crisis from which recovery is still ongoing.

More than 20 Filipinos from Swan Hills are among the hundreds of evacuees since the wildfire began on Sunday. Many of them hold temporary visas and are experiencing a natural disaster for the first time.

“They gave us an alert warning that we had an hour to evacuate,” says Filipino international student Darylle Dinos.

Darylle was with his sister Allyza, also an international student, when the emergency alert was sent out to Swan Hills residents. The siblings say they were preparing for an exam when the evacuation order came through.

“The [authorities] said we needed to pack for like three days,” Allyza says. “But we’re not sure because it’s already been three days.”

Fire crews continue to battle the blaze, but weather experts say the wildfires remain out of control, with Swan Hills still affected.

Evacuees, including temporary workers, are awaiting official word on when it will be safe to return.