On the Ground in Fort McMurray The Salvation Army provides support and aid during Alberta wildfire BY PAMELA RICHARDSON
W
hen a wildfire was discovered by patrolling fire crews on Sunday, May 1, in northern Alberta, no one could have known what devastating days and weeks would follow. Within hours, the fire had grown exponentially due to high winds, extremely hot temperatures and dry conditions, and was burning a path toward the city of Fort McMurray. As firefighters and other first responders joined forces to battle the ever-expanding fire and ensure the safety of residents and 8 July 2016 Salvationist
properties, the local Salvation Army in Fort McMurray was there. First Response The Army’s relief efforts began under the leadership of Majors Stephen and Elaine Hibbs, corps officers in Fort McMurray, and Majors Bond and Marina Jennings, associate corps officers. Local Salvationists offered practical and spiritual support to first responders and then evacuees when it became necessary for people to leave some communities within the municipality of Fort McMurray as the fire spread. By the evening of Tuesday,
May 3, the situation took a turn for the worse, and a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the entire city. Over the next few hours, nearly 90,000 people fled their homes and made their way to evacuation centres and work camps associated with the oil industry north of Fort McMurray while fire crews continued their fight against the fire that came to be known as “The Beast.” “We had been engaged heavily in relief efforts,” says Major Stephen Hibbs, “when we were told to evacuate. As The Salvation Army, we’re always the helpers, but we were in a position where we
Photo: Lieutenant Peter Kim
The Salvation Army and the Canadian Forces partner to bring much-needed supplies to the front lines