This is part 5 of Pastor Les's series recounting his and Ardith's evacuation from Fort McMurray. You may read the previous posts by following these links: Part 1 (Escaping the Inferno!), Part 2 (Metis/First Nations Hospitality), Part 3 (Oil Sands Camp), Part 4 (Angel Paul and the jerry can).
Fort McMurray, Alberta Wildfires. Thursday dawns in the northwestern Alberta oil sands camp. Ardith and I are being told by some to catch a Westjet flight to Edmonton from the camp airstrip. Hundreds are being flown out. Yet, we could not see ourselves for what could be weeks in Edmonton without a vehicle. Praying to God for a way to again go south to the Shell Albian Oil Sands site to get gas and my vehicle, I turned around and came face-to-face with my new-found friend, Paul (from then on I called him ‘Angel’ Paul because he always seemed to be there when I needed someone the most). Paul again became my chauffeur and we, along with a few other stranded and fuel-needy evacuees, went south.
A couple of police cars with flashing red and blue lights were leading the pack out of the wilderness! The guide helicopter rose up and flew over the top of us. It was leading the way ensuring from the air that it was safe to drive through the stricken city.
We located my lonely Ford, put enough gas in it, from another jerry can, to get me back to the Suncor Firebag camp. Now my wife and I have wheels! We stayed one more night in camp. Friday saw us on the road again. Destination: Edmonton via Fort McMurray. After about a forty minute ride we pulled into the Shell site and to our great delight, there was the tanker! This time with plenty of gas! The friendly Shell employees filled our vehicle full to the top of our tank, no charge. On we went so grateful to be on the move. We were heading along Highway 63 South to join up with one of the police escorted convoys. About fifteen kilometers north of fire ravaged Fort McMurray we caught up with the latest convoy of vehicles of all shapes and sizes, fleeing the north for the south. Here we sat for over an hour. Smoke billowed up just ahead of us on both sides of the highway. It was evident that Fort McMurray and the surrounding forests were still on fire.
A helicopter flew back over our convoy and landed in an opening behind us. The buzz from some who were wandering around their cars was whether or not we would get through as the massive fire clouds were growing larger and darker within sight of us. We had to somehow get through burning Fort McMurray and on to safety. Suddenly, we noticed movement up ahead. A couple of police cars with flashing red and blue lights were leading the pack out of the wilderness! The guide helicopter rose up and flew over the top of us. It was leading the way ensuring from the air that it was safe to drive through the stricken city. We were on the move! We were nervous! “God will make a way where there seems to be no way.”
This time, divine methods include a police escort and a helicopter overhead. Reminds me of the time that Jesus said to his followers, “Let us go to the other side” (in that case it was the large lake of Galilee). A storm arose and his followers panicked thinking they were going to drown. Jesus stilled the storm and calmed the lake. No one perished. When Jesus says, “Let us go to the other side”….to the other side we shall go! Are you afraid at this time that you will never again see clear skies? Look to God, He knows the way through the fires of adversity and smoke of uncertainty!