Residents of Fort Smith are urged to come together and utilize mental health services following a community-wide shelter-in-place directive, according to local resident Mildred Martin. The town of approximately 2,000 individuals was placed under a shelter-in-place mandate for over 13 hours in response to a shooting incident that left three individuals injured early on a Saturday. Martin emphasized the importance of mental health support during such challenging times, acknowledging the impact it can have on individuals.
Upon receiving the shelter-in-place notification at 3 a.m., Martin immediately took precautions to secure her residence, expressing her unease and the need for safety measures. She mentioned that her eight-year-old grandson was particularly anxious, and she engaged him with activities like reading and electronics to distract him from the situation. Martin noted that the past shooting incident in 2022 had also left a lasting impact on her grandson and other community members, causing lingering feelings of insecurity.
Despite the distress caused by the recent events, Martin expressed gratitude towards the responders involved in handling the situation, including the RCMP, healthcare professionals, and first responders, for their dedicated efforts. Meanwhile, festival attendee Tawna Brown, who had traveled to Fort Smith for the Fireweed Festival, shared her shock upon learning about the shooting that occurred as the festival’s opening event concluded. Brown, a resident of Yellowknife, recounted her experience of receiving the shelter-in-place alert and her disbelief at the unfolding events.
Following the lockdown being lifted late Saturday, the Fireweed Festival is set to proceed as scheduled for the remainder of the weekend. Authorities continue to investigate the shooting incident, with an increased police presence expected in Fort Smith to ensure community safety.
