Fort McMurray fire chief to speak at U of L event

In the face of a brutal and growing natural disaster, how can you respond?

The man who guided Fort McMurray through its greatest crisis will share some of his thoughts during a dinner presentation here Thursday.

Darby Allen, the regional fire chief who directed operations when a wildfire struck in 2016, will be the guest of the University of Lethbridge. His public presentation, part of the Chartered Professional Accountants’ annual “Leadership and Innovation” speaker series, will be the keynote speaker for this year’s event.

Organizers say Allen became “an exemplar of selfless courage and level-headedness under pressure.” Under his direction, the city’s entire population — about 88,000 — was evacuated without loss of life.

For weeks, he also worked with first responders and volunteers from across Canada who came to help.

Allen’s news media updates, observers say, were not only a source of accurate information but a source of optimism and reassurance.

Now he’s offering guidance on how to become a calm, quickthinking leader in difficult situations. Allen’s presentation is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel.

The evening will begin with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. and a three-course dinner at 6:15 p.m. Tickets, priced at $30 including the meal, are available online at