This is part 3 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).
Fort McMurray, Alberta Wildfires. Along with scores of other evacuees, we arrived by bus at the Suncor Firebag Camp to be greeted by employees who had been reassigned from their usual workplace tasks to assist the constantly arriving throng. By now we were well north of Fort McMurray. Many of the camps we passed along the way were already filled to capacity with those fleeing the fires. As it turned out, Firebag is one of the better of the housing facilities. Dozens of long rectangular housing units joined together to make up this massive complex capable of becoming the temporary home of thousands of workers. We were warmly greeted, registered and shown to our room. How thankful to God (and Suncor) for this room we were given, free of charge. A bed, washroom, shower and closet! By four o’clock Wednesday morning we fell asleep, exhausted but pleased to be in a clean place with a degree of privacy. We were displaced yet safe!
We were afforded times with some to share spiritual thoughts while with others we simply listened. I think we were all in a state of trauma in some form or other. We spoke a couple of times with Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake who, with her family, had also fled on Highway 63 North to this camp. She had significant responsibilities to carry even while seeking to console her own young family.
Our stay at this camp in the northern boreal forest of Alberta would last for three days, Wednesday through Friday. Three cafeteria style meals were served each day in a large dining area that could hold hundreds of people. In the providence of God, we met new people, swapping stories of our escape and the incidents that we encountered along the way. We were afforded times with some to share spiritual thoughts while with others we simply listened. I think we were all in a state of trauma in some form or other. We spoke a couple of times with Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake who, with her family, had also fled on Highway 63 North to this camp. She had significant responsibilities to carry even while seeking to console her own young family. She commented on the care and generosity of multitudes of people. Sitting with my wife at a table I began to chat with a complete stranger. As the conversation progress and we began to inquire of our places of origin, we were amazed to learn that we were both from the Miramichi area of New Brunswick having grown up very close to one another. He had left home early so we had missed knowing each other. What a delightful coincidence! We met up with some of our church family who also found themselves at the same camp.
People were not the only inhabitants of this haven in the wilderness. Pets were everywhere. Dogs, cats and birds. I later learned that that more than 900 pets were rescued from the city, cared for and reunited with their owners in the city of Edmonton. Those were some of the pets that owners could not take with them because of the necessity of rapid escape from the flames. The pets at the camps were the ones that were able to go with their families. I glanced down at a cage held by a person as they walked by me on the way into the camp. In that cage was the prettiest parrot I have ever seen. Such beautifully colored feathers! Beauty in the midst of bedlam! It was reassuring to know that since God’s “eye is on the sparrow”, as the Scriptures say, He will surely take care of us. Trusting!