Since May 3rd the lives of 88,000 people has been turned upside down!!! A wildfire resulted in the evacuation of Fort McMurray, a city where lots of our family still lives and the place where Graham and I were raised, got our start as a married couple...a place dear to our hearts. Many friends still live there and in many ways our lives are still quite closely tied to the city set in a valley where two rivers converge.
It was CRAZY HEARTBREAKING Tuesday as I scanned facebook and saw news of evacuations in the city. Of all the spring fires Fort McMurray has faced, this was different and has truly been wild! The day started out normally for everyone in the community but fire is unpredictable and just after lunch businesses closed down, schools started calling parents and fire entered areas of the city, it was SERIOUS!!! It was terrifying as we (my sister Alyson came over) listened to the local radio station and their broadcasting ended as the entire city was evacuated, that is 88,000 people!!!!! We had news on the TV too and it was crazy. I can't begin to imagine the feelings of our family and friends, parents scrambling. We were incredibly grateful for cell phones and technology so we were able to be in touch. Our family; Mom, Mikel, Leslie and Kingston in two vehicles and Jennifer, Rob and Max in theirs each left their homes with 30 min notice, no one had any idea how serious this had become or would yet become. The traffic was slow moving and although they all live in 'Thickwood' it took Jenn and Rob an extra two hours to get to the HWY. My family's two vehicles were directed north and Jenn was directed south. It was the unpredictability of fire. The ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE CITY needed to leave.
North of Fort McMurray is where the plants are and a tender mercy in that there were work camps, many sitting empty with the lower price of oil. Families were assigned rooms and Leslie had a friend who upon their arrival had everything set up for them, this was another tender mercy. My dad had been north at the Syncrude Plant at work that day so it was good that this part of our family went north so they could get him. With thousands, literally thousands of people needing lodging my parents made the decision to try and head south, splitting up. It proved to be the right decision as their normal 5 hour trip took 14 hours!!!!! My mom and Mikel spent a total of 18 hours in the vehicle. They drove through the night arriving early Wednesday morning and my mom used the word apocalyptic to describe coming through the city as the fire raged. It was heartbreaking because you know there would be devastating affects. In the middle of the night Jenn and Rob made it safely to their trailer which was camped in Wandering River. The next morning as the first group arrived smelling smoky Leslie called to consult us on if she should try to leave? The HWY had been closed on and off through out the night, she decided to go for it and was accompanied by the friend that had secured the room for her the night before. Jason had a family in Edmonton who like us were watching the news report things getting worse and worse, it was scary. When she called and said she had made it through the city it was a huge relief. My mom got a jerry can of gas and headed north to meet them so they would have enough fuel. We hugged her and Kingston later that day and the rest of the week seemed surreal. On Friday Jenn and Rob came in and we were finally able to hug the last of our Fort McMurray family. By the weekend most of the plants were shuting down and evacuating all employees and move never before done.
It has seemed like a sad dream as we meet up with friends and they share their escape. Some have lost their homes, lost everything. It makes the heart hurt so bad. There was a fatality during the evacuation caused by a car crash on the secondary HWY, so very sad, there were no other losses of life and that is unbelievable.
There has been tremendous kindness and generosity by people, a reminder of the good. Fort McMurray is full of tough, strong, pioneer type folk who are hard working. They endure cold winters, often live away from their families, work long hours and the community as a whole has given a lot to our province and country, they deserve our support....they are going to get back and rebuild!!! Alyson and I are doing our best to help our friends and the needs that are arising. I can't imagine only having one nursing bra, only having a toy or two for my busy toddler or living in a hotel room. Our friends here in Fort Saskatchewan have been amazing as we have done little shout outs for help. Goodness can be seen even in sadness!
I am very, very grateful that my family is staying close and most can stay with us. It is hopefully comfortable for them here. It is so nice being together, the Birds are over almost daily. The family togetherness is wonderful and then you remember why and it is sad. My family had a 72 hour kit and obeyed the little things we are told about preparedness like having cash and keeping the vehicle topped up with gas, all proved important. So grateful for their safety.
City of Edmonton attractions are giving free admission to Fort Mac people so while the beginning of the week was full of important todo list stuff the later part has been fun family stuff.
So this explains my lack of blogging. Each night I have fallen into bed exhausted and it is not even me who survived the fire or is displaced. We continue to pray for those who have.
~ Mrs. P
