William, Kate visit devastated Canadian town

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, greets people in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada on Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

SLAVE LAKE, Alberta — Prince William and Kate saw burned-out cars, blackened trees and the remains of what had been family homes as they made a detour from their official itinerary on Wednesday to visit a Canadian village heavily damaged by a wildfire.

The stop in the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake, caught in an inferno in May, was an apparent effort to bring much-needed cheer to residents who face the daunting task of rebuilding.

The royal couple, on their first official overseas tour since their April wedding, landed at the community’s airport and then boarded a bus with large windows for a tour of devastated neighborhoods.

The couple walked down a street, asked many questions, and even stopped to touch one demolished car. At one point, William reached down to examine the rubble, then studied the ash on his hands. They saw homes reduced to charred basement foundations.

“It is very, very exciting for our town and our community,” resident Shauna Fiddler said. “It will hopefully lift the spirits of many people who have had their spirits quite dampened.”

After about 20 minutes, the royal couple headed to a local college, where a crowd that had been gathering since early morning chanted “Will and Kate” and “We Love Slave Lake.”

The two waved briefly before heading inside to meet about 50 residents, who sat in plastic chairs at folding tables in the gymnasium. The duke and duchess stopped at each table to shake hands and chat. William patted one woman’s shoulder.

They emerged for a walkabout to the delight of everyone.

More than 400 homes and businesses — about one-third of the town — were reduced to ash and debris when a wind-whipped forest fire swept through in May. The fire forced 7,000 people to flee in what was the largest evacuation in Alberta’s history.

The newlyweds were on the seventh day of their nine-day trip to Canada. After the Slave Lake visit, they departed for some private time at an undisclosed location before their next official stop in Calgary late Thursday. Wednesday originally was scheduled to be a day of rest.

Kate was sporting casual attire for the visit — blue pants with a wide brown belt, a ruffled cream blouse, blue blazer and wedge slingback shoes. Will appeared in gray pants, blue shirt and navy jacket.

The people gathered outside the college were pressed four and five deep against the barricades, eager for a glimpse of the royal visitors.

Dwayne Verschoor, whose home was destroyed, said he couldn’t believe the royals made a point of coming to visit.

“It’s a pretty big honor and a privilege even for them to think of us over here in a small little town,” he said.