The forces of nature are pummelling the town of Slave Lake to our north, with high winds whipping up flames that have now leapt the town’s municipal boundary and destroyed about one-third of the community. Yet even as the town’s 7,000-plus residents make their way to shelters across the area, the indomitable human spirit of Albertans, both here in St. Albert and throughout the province, has and will continue to come to the aid of those who have been displaced.
It is rare in Alberta that wildfires end up consuming entire communities, especially with such ferocity, and the consequences for Slave Lake are heartbreaking. Besides hundreds of homes, the blaze has consumed its newly opened town hall and public library, adding further insult to what will be a very long and expensive injury. The saving grace is that no one — not even the patients at the town hospital — suffered any injury or died. Evacuating the town as rapidly as officials did gave everyone the opportunity to get out safely.
It began Sunday night, as the first evacuees started making their way down Highway 2, the only safe route from town. The doors at the community hall in Westlock and the multiplex in Athabasca were thrown open for the first wave of residents, followed by space at Edmonton’s Expo Centre. Others found their way to a St. Albert hotel and a local business offered to feed them. As evacuees streamed out of town, hundreds of firefighters streamed in, including eight firemen and three trucks from St. Albert and another contingent from the Morinville volunteer fire department. Two St. Albert RCMP officers have also deployed to the town. In total, there are 120 Alberta firefighters in Slave Lake with another 200 from across Canada helping in Slave Lake and at other places where wildfires are burning. The dedication and integrity these emergency workers show is both inspiring and humbling.
But the people of the Capital region and the entire province are equally inspiring in their response, doing what they can to try and ease the burden on those forced to leave Slave Lake. The Red Cross has been inundated with donations as it provides what assistance it can as this disaster unfolds. The Morinville arena has opened its doors to accept donations and the town’s chamber of commerce will hold a silent auction to raise money. St. Albert’s Community Information and Volunteer Centre has received dozens of phone calls from local residents asking where they can donate money or other needed items. Most are being directed to the Edmonton Emergency Relief Centre, but the St. Albert Salvation Army is now taking monetary donations.
There is much that can never be replaced for the residents of Slave Lake — pictures, mementos and other important items that are only accrued with time. But no building can be called a home unless there are people inside. Premier Ed Stelmach has already said the province is ready to help the town rebuild when the fire is extinguished. In awe of such destructive power, it is hard to think anything we do can possibly make a difference. But the most important role we can play is right now, giving of ourselves, our money, our possessions and our compassion in this time of crisis. The necessities of life and the caring support of strangers can mean more to these people from Slave Lake than anything else we can do. The difference we are making might not be visible or as concrete as a house, but right now those houses don’t matter. Only the people living under the roofs of these shelters do.
