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Post by stonecutter on May 15, 2011 22:29:02 GMT -7
My hometown, Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada is currently on fire due to a wildfire. Strong winds - 50-100kph have been fanning the flames. This evening at about 6:00PM, the area of town that I grew up in was the first to be breached by the fire. My folks still live there. They live right across the street from the local police station, which is reported to have burned down. Just watched on the 11:00PM news that it is expected that as of now, 30% of the homes in the town of 7,000 people have burned. My folks have left town and went out to their acerage. There's no power out there, but this is where they keep their holiday trailer. They loaded it up and are going to camp nearby where they can find a water connection and wait for the roads to reopen to go and survey the damage and see if they still have a home. Likely not. Will keep you posted. edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110515/edm_slavelake_110515/20110516/?hub=EdmontonHome |
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Post by cherylm on May 16, 2011 0:03:36 GMT -7
Dreadful news, there...I hope they can get the fire under control and that there are few injuries. The property damage is terrible, but it's at least "fixable"...people are not so easy to repair.
My thoughts are with you and your parents, stonecutter...thank goodness they had a place to evacuate to!
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ann58
Female Member 
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Post by ann58 on May 17, 2011 21:04:43 GMT -7
I will keep your parents in prayer 'stonecutter' that is just terrible. I hope they don't loose everything, but have to agree with Cherylm that it isn't them & they do have a travel trailer to go to.  |
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Post by barclay on May 17, 2011 21:33:10 GMT -7
My heart goes out to you as well - It's so hard when you are far away an information is scarce. Especially as the 'news' tends to sensationalize everything!
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Post by stonecutter on Jul 14, 2011 7:03:56 GMT -7
So, as an update on this. It's been two months since the big fire, they are just now starting to remove the burned out debris from the buildings that were destroyed, which includes over 370 houses, six large apartment buildings and several businesses and the brand new town hall, which was completed less than 18 months ago. Prior to going up there to see the carnage myself in June, I had seen literally hundreds of photos and videos depicting the scene. I've seen the GoogleEarth satellite photos showing where the fire had rolled through town and the neighboring country side of this lakeside community. I thought I knew what to expect. There aren't enough photos and video in the world that can adequately capture the scene. With the insurance battles, planning delays, labour shortages, construction schedules, bureaucratic red tape, they will be struggling to get this community rebuilt for years to come. A bit of good news though: Will & Kate toured the community on (what I believe was) their only 'day off' from their Canadian tour last week. That was nice, considering that was supposed to be a day of seclusion in the Canadian Rockies for themselves. |
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Post by cherylm on Jul 15, 2011 1:07:02 GMT -7
Oh my...what a powerful video, and I can believe it when you say that there are not enough pictures to do justice to the damage done, stonecutter. I hope that all of the "formalities" can be cleared up soon and folks can start putting their lives back together.
It's good to hear the news about Will and Kate's visit, though. Simply by being there, I'm sure they brought a lot of attention to the community, and it's always a good thing to remind people that, after a disaster, there is still work to be done.
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Post by stonecutter on Apr 30, 2012 15:08:08 GMT -7
Another update.
I helped my parents move into their new house on the same lot where their old one was destroyed on Saturday 21 April 2012. Just inside the 12th month after the fire. The area of town that was destroyed by the fire looks like one enormous construction zone.
Although the town has lost a few businesses, hundreds of citizens who couldn't find places to live post-fire, millions of dollars worth of infrastructure, parks, commercial buildings, and (at one point) 9 out of the 14 doctors who worked in the town's clinics and hospitals, each house that gets built and occupied is a triumph over adversity.
Homes left to even to have construction started yet number in the hundreds.
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ann58
Female Member
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Post by ann58 on Apr 30, 2012 20:01:40 GMT -7
So glad they r finally going home....and that it never happens again.
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Post by cherylm on May 1, 2012 0:36:09 GMT -7
Glad to hear some good news, and I hope it continues for the twon and its residents!
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Post by ann- on May 1, 2012 2:35:56 GMT -7
Goodness glad your parents are able to move into their new house .... although it must have been awful thats not bad going inside twelve months ... and having to rebuild a complete town is very much a triumph over adversity I imagine.
To be honest if that happened over here, I am not sure it would happen, people whose homes have only been flooded, well I say only, also traumatic if that happens, but buildings still standing, often takes years to get back into their homes.
You must be v well organized wherever your parents are.
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