On
May 3, 2016, in my hometown of Fort McMurray, Alberta, I fled my city in fear
of what is now known as the largest forest fire in Alberta's history. We woke up that morning to blue skies and warm weather. It wasn't until later in the day that smoke began to arise around us. We knew that there were
forest fires close by but we thought nothing more of it. Growing up in Northern
Alberta we were surround by the Boreal Forest so forest fires were a common
occurrence. As if routine, the fires would start due to dry conditions and
unfortunate events, the local fire department would get called, water bombers
would come in, and in a matter of days the fire would be out. This time was
different. This time multiple fires would start, multiple fire departments
would get called throughout North America and the world, multiple water bombers
would come in and 88,000 people would be forced to evacuate their
homes. Now, one month after this horrific event, I've been able to look
back on my experience and piece it all together through texts, calls and
memory, creating a timeline of what I personally experienced the day we
evacuated.
The
smoke started to get darker, knowing it was no longer burning just trees my Mom
decided to wake up my Dad up so that he could head into work early to see if
they needed help. He's a Battalion Chief at one of the local oil companies and
was supposed to work a night shift that evening.
1:30
pm
Word
got out that the neighbourhood I grew up in at the south end of town was under
mandatory evacuation. They were told to head to the large sports centre that
was located in the middle of the city which was deemed safe due to being on an
island. People were being advised not to head South due to the highway entrance
being lined with towering flames from the raging fire.
1:45
pm
My
parents decide that we needed to fuel the vehicles for the odd chance that we
would get evacuated as well.
1:50
pm
My
grandmother who lives in southern Alberta calls and tells me that we should
come there where it's safe. She asks what it's like around our house and I
explain how I can see nothing but smoke behind the houses in my neighbourhood.
Tears began to form in my eyes as the panic truly sets in that my city was in
danger.
2:01
pm
My
phone rings and it's my childhood friend who's attending University in Calgary,
Alberta. She asks if her Mom and two pets can meet her Dad, who's at work, at
our place instead of going to the now packed evacuation centre. I told her of
course they could knowing I wanted to help in any way that I could. Before
hanging up she confirmed that her parents would be meeting at my home on the
North end of town.
2:10
pm
Parents
return with no fuel as the city was bumper to bumper traffic and they were
unable to make it to any gas stations. We turned on the news on to see if
we were able to get an idea of the extent of the current situation. At this
time they were just repeating the news we'd already known.
2:24
pm
My
work contacts me confirming that the store was closed due to staff needing to
leave and make sure that their homes were okay.
3:26
pm
My
friends Dad arrives to our house.
4:00
pm
As
my Dad gets ready for work he tells us to pack about a weeks worth of clothes
and anything we deemed important incase we were to evacuate.
4:15 pm
Radio station is forced to evacuate so they head to a new location where they could continue to broadcast.
4:30 pm
Radio station is forced to evacuate so they head to a new location where they could continue to broadcast.
4:30 pm
Neighbours
knock on the door, they weren't able to get any fuel either and asked if we had
any in the garage to spare. We managed to give them what little fuel we had
left.
5:00
pm
Friends
Mom still has not arrived due to being stuck in traffic. Taking advantage
of the time we have in our home, my mother and I start to pack. I had no idea
what to even consider packing as I stood in the middle of my room. My suitcase
laid in the middle of my floor with my basic necessities thrown in. I looked
around but couldn't decipher what I considered replaceable and irreplaceable,
the majority of the things I had I'd just considered "stuff". Stuff
that I could purchase anywhere. From here I started to grab scrap books, photos
and memorabilia, items in which, if I lost my home, I could not replace.
6:02
pm
Finally
my Friends Mom made it to our house, having nothing but the clothes on her back
along with her dog and cat. We tried to comfort her as best we could. She
tells us of her experience and how she could see smoke across from her house in
the forest and how the police knocked on her door forcing her out, not giving
her a chance to grab anything more before being forced to
leave. It had taken her nearly 4 hours to complete the journey to my
house that would normally take 10-15 minutes. The entire city was in a panic at
this point.
6:10
pm
My
Dad leaves for work knowing the traffic will be bad. At this point, people have
been told to head North of town due to the South end being in flames making
Highway 63 South inaccessible and the evacuation center being full. He tells us
to pack up the truck and leave as soon as we can before he gives us a hug and
heads to work.
6:30 pm
After relocating, the radio cuts out for the last time, leaving nothing behind but a repeating alert stating that the city is under evacuation. At this point the entire city is under mandatory evacuation.
6:30 pm
After relocating, the radio cuts out for the last time, leaving nothing behind but a repeating alert stating that the city is under evacuation. At this point the entire city is under mandatory evacuation.
6:51
pm
My
friend from out of town calls me in a panic. She sees my home town on the news
and wants to know if there's anything she can do to help us. I explain how we
don't have a set plan yet seeing as the only highway out of town is closed due
to fire and if we were to head North of town we could get trapped, as you can
only go so far North before you run out of road.
7:02
pm
I
continue to pack and receive another call from a friend from college. He asks
if there's anything he can do to help. At this point I start to get scared.
Knowing that people from all over are hearing about this fire starts to show me
how serious this event is.
7:45
pm
My
brother calls saying that he and the couple he rents from are on their way out
of town. They heard that the Southbound Highway is now open and they plan to
head that way and we will meet at our family's place in Athabasca.
8:17
pm
My
brothers calls again confirming that the flames are still raging but the
Southbound Highway is now open. He also confirms the damage so far and says
that our old neighbourhood looks as though it's gone.
8:30
pm
We
load our belongings into the truck. As we do we see the few people left on our
street doing the same. All throwing what they could into their vehicles and
syphoning gas from lawn mowers hoping to get enough to make it somewhere
safe.
9:00
pm
My
friends Mom and Dad decide it's time for them to head out as well seeing the
whole city was leaving. Her Mom decided to head South, like us, and her Dad had
to head back to work seeing as he was the only mechanic for the fire hall in
which my dad worked at and would be needed.
10:00
pm
Mom
finally agrees that it is time for us to make a move and get out of town. She
wants to head North and be with my Father but I fear that with the way the fire
was going, we would get trapped up there. We decide to head South instead.
Knowing we were low on fuel, we weren't hopeful we would make it very far but
we knew it would be enough to get us safely away from the fire. As I locked up
my home I couldn't help but cry, as I didn't know whether or not I'd be seeing my
home again.
11:00 pm
Stuck in bumper to bumper traffic we've only made it halfway through town. With everything being pitch black due to the power being out downtown all we see are the lights from the vehicles stuck in traffic and the flames that surround us.
My
brother calls and gives us direction to where he is pulled over for the night.
Knowing that he is hours ahead of us and that we wouldn't have enough fuel to
get there, we say goodnight and agree to get in touch again when they get on
the road in the morning.
2:30
am
We
see a truck pulled over filling up vehicles with fuel. With high hopes we pull
over to see if they have any diesel. No luck, they only have gas and we have to
carry on our journey with only a few kilometres of fuel left.
2:59
am
After
driving no faster then 40 km/h for 5 hours we had to pull over and wait for
fuel. We pulled safely onto the side of the road where several other cars had
stopped for the night. Family just a few hours South offered to bring us diesel
but seeing as it was now 3 am we didn't want to have us both stuck in
the bumper to bumper traffic on the highway. Not knowing what to do, I posted a
FaceBook status saying my mother and I had run out of diesel and were at marker
120. Within minutes I had a friend tag me in a post that had a number to call
if you ran out of gas. Immediately I called the number and after getting in
contact with 3 other people we finally got in touch with someone who was
delivering diesel. I told him where we were and he said it would take an hour
or so to get to us, so we wait.
6:48
am
With
little sleep, we still have no fuel and have not heard from the guy who’s
supposed to be delivering us diesel. I call the number of the guy
who’s supposed to be bringing us fuel again and this time there is no answer. I
call the original number and the guy says to pop the hood of our truck so that
anyone with fuel will know to stop.
7:01
am
As
I walk back around to the side of the truck, after popping the hood, two trucks
pull up. They ask if we’re okay and I reply saying that we’ve run out of
diesel. Immediately they reach into the box of the first truck and pull out two
full gerry cans of diesel. Words could not express how relieved I felt. As two
men filled up our truck a woman offers us water and food and explains how
they’ve come up from Fort Saskatchewan to help fuel stranded vehicles. Without
accepting any payment the three of them wished us well and got in their trucks
and carried on. We got in the truck and continued on what was now our two-day
journey.
8:30
am
After
being on the road for just over an hour we were yet again stuck in
bumper-to-bumper traffic. We get word that there’s been an accident and try to
patiently wait.
9:50
am
Having
not moved in over an hour Mom decides to reroute and back track to the
Plamondon turn off which would bypass the area and of the accident. Cautiously
we pull into the ditch and cross over to the Northbound lane, which has now
designated one of their lanes for Southbound traffic. Once safely across we
head North.
10:00
am
Now
that we were safely on our way again we contact my brother who has yet to get
back on the highway after stopping for the night, and let him know of the
accident and where to go to bypass the traffic.
10:34
am
My
Mom and I make it safely to the town of Athabasca and our first stop is to get
fuel yet again. While fuelling up my Mom saw some people filling up
gerry cans and loading them up in their truck to help fuel the remaining
stranded vehicles. In hopes to pay it forward my Mom gives them some money towards
their bill knowing that it was people like them who helped us when we were in
need.
11:00 am
11:00 am
After our 13 hours, that would normally take 3, we have finally made it to my Aunt’s home in
Athabasca where we are able to sleep comfortably for the first time in nearly
two days.
Now, one month after being evacuated from the fire, now known as “The Beast” we have been able to head to our still standing home. Within one month “The Beast” took away the neighbourhood I grew up in, my friends homes, my Aunt and Uncles home, as well as countless other homes, and has even played a role in the death of our family friends daughter and nephew. As tragic as this whole event has been, and continues to be, I can't wait to help to rebuild my city. I will never forget the hospitality that my province and country provided throughout the duration of our evacuation and I will forever be grateful for the support of my family and for the first responders, like my Father, who continue to fight this battle.
"We are here, and we are strong!" - Darby Allen
