Prince William and Kate visit devastated Canadian town

(CBS/AP) Updated 4:23 p.m. EDT

SLAVE LAKE, Alberta - Prince William and Kate made a detour from the official itinerary of their Canadian tour on Wednesday so they could visit the northern Alberta town of Slave Lake, which was heavily damaged by a wildfire in May.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as the couple is formally known, will tour devastated neighborhoods by minibus and meet with residents, firefighters and rescue crews during their visit.

Pictures: William and Kate visit Alberta
Pictures: William and Kate in Northwest Territories
Pictures: Newlyweds on Prince Edward Island

Slave Lake was not on the official royal itinerary, but the couple wanted to make the detour to show support for the many people who lost everything. More than 400 homes and businesses were reduced to ash and debris when a wind-whipped forest fire swept through the town.

The newlyweds are on the seventh day of their nine-day trip to Canada, part of the first official overseas trip for the couple who wed on April 29. So far, their stops have included taking in aboriginal culture in the Northwest Territories, competing in a friendly dragon boat race on Prince Edward Island, participating in a tree-planting ceremony and taking part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa.

Pictures: William and Kate continue through Canada
Pictures: William and Kate's Canada Day
Pictures: Newlyweds kick off Canada tour

After their visit to Slave Lake, the couple will then depart for some private time at an undisclosed location before their next official stop in Calgary late Thursday afternoon.