Ten days after Fort McMurray went through the trauma of the biggest wildfire in Alberta's history, (maybe Canada's too) things have settled just a little. A mass evacuation occurred after wind direction changed and swept the fire into the city, which ended up destroying 2400 structures, most of them homes. Fortunately, the only loss of life happened in a traffic accident involving an evacuee, well away from the city. Still tragic but considering what could have occurred, things went well.
On that note, I read an interesting commentary on why the residents of city were able to all get out safely and it wasn't attributed to luck of any sort. The commentator felt that the fact that so many people who live in that community are well trained in safety and emergency procedures due to their work in the oil and gas industry. I can't argue too much with that statement but regardless of why, no human loss of life is an amazing story, especially when you see photos of the what happened.
Yes, a lot of devastation and much trauma to those who were forced to flee, lost homes, or are displaced for an indefinite amount of time. But, as difficult as this has been, and will continue to be, we should all be thankful that everyone made it out alive.
It's been great to see the response of not just Albertans but the entire country as well, pitching in to help out, with cash donations to the Red Cross, opening their homes to those displaced, helping stranded motorists, doing whatever they can to comfort and support the victims of this fire they call "The Beast". In the face of such trauma and strife, it restores your faith in mankind to do right and work together to help their fellow man!
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| People still didn't panic, even under these harrowing circumstances |
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| Firefighters had to make tough choices about abandoning lost causes and focusing on what could be saved. |
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| The fire was so large it was creating it's own micro-climate and weather conditions |
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| Water bombers spread fire retardant in order to give time for ground crews to do their work |
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| Many citizens pitched in to help those who ran out of gas and had no supplies of any kind, such as water. |
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| Temporary accommodations set up in Lac La Biche for evacuees |
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| Fire crews couldn't save certain areas where the fire was out of control |
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| Some homes were spared, while those across the street burned |
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