Wild Fires and Special Help

During the first weeks of April, 2016 as the result of a winter with very little snow followed by early, hot, dry weather, several hundred fires sprang up in British Columbia and Alberta. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and thousands lost those homes. Most notable where those living north of Fort St. John, Buick Creek, Goodlow, Stoddard Creek, Cecil Lake BC, but the worst destruction was in Fort McMurray, AB. The last report I heard concerning the Fort McMurray fire stated that 20% of the houses in that town no longer exist. I’m sure there will be many more homes and businesses that will be severely damaged.

Here is a picture of Fort Mac before the fire.

Several individuals and companies performed magnificently and few are or will ever be recognized for their commitment and support of their fellow humans.

As an example, here is a Facebook post from Tom Grande

Getting No Credit, Getting No Coverage.

ms that some of the companies that are providing huge contributions are getting no credit. Companies like Syncrude and Suncor, they have opened up their camps and are housing and feeding 25,000 people. That is a huge number to house and feed. To put that into perspective, that would be like having all the hotels in Edmonton and Calgary, offering free rooms and food to 25,000 people. It took an entire country to offer accommodations for 25,000 refugees and in Ft Mac a handful of oil companies are doing the same and have not received any credit or coverage for it in the media. My hats off to the generosity and humble giving from these oil companies. They have sent their workers home so they could take care of the evacuees. They have quietly been giving more than any of us realize. To make it clear I am not affiliated or work for any of these companies just want to give a shout out of thanks to all of them.

Here is a picture of one of those camps.

What Tom posted here is mostly true, although I did hear a mention of the camp use on CBC FM and Satellite radio. I also heard of the two tankers that Shell had positioned along the highway south to Edmonton which fueled the vehicles of those escaping the fires - free of charge.

Thousands of Canadians stepped up to help. Thousands of firefighters, water bomber and helicopter pilots worked passed the point of exhaustion.

On Mother’s Day, May 8, 2016 it rained in Fort McMurray.

Support from citizens was exceptional.

Support from Mother Nature was in the nick of time.

Support from Ministry of Forests and employees was exceptional

Support from most elected officials and government bodies were sorely inadequate.