This has been such a week for residents of the South Slave, Delta and Sahtu regions as wildfires moved closer to communities. In the South Slave, the fires closed off the highway and people had to be airlifted to Alberta communities.
I remember fires North of Winnipeg and the fear of having to leave the farm on which I was raised. I remember my foster father turning grey-faced with the prospect of having to leave his cows behind if the fires moved onto our farmland.
It is with an incredible amount of stress to determine what to bring and leave behind. What one can bring with community evacuations is limited. What one would bring in a personal evacuation is more complicated. One brings essentials of course. What does one take if you have more choices but limited vehicle space after it is filled with occupants of family, friends and pets.
Not much – some photos, some children’s toys, small pieces of memorabilia of one’s life.
You leave behind the building you made into a home, and your favourite couch, the stereo system, artwork, clothing, and your child’s hobby horse. These decisions must be made fast and must be final. There is no time to spare. Your escape route might be in danger of closure.
You must accept the reality what is left behind may be gone upon your return.
You vow to pick up the pieces of your life should your home be destroyed.
You listen to the heartfelt cries of family over precious personal losses.
You feel shattered, but know you have to be strong.
Let’s go to Lahaina, Maui for a moment. Nearly 100 people perished in the fires, many trapped in their vehicles as they tried to flee. It is the worst tragedy in US history. Beautiful Lahaina. Many Canadians have visited Hawaii for holidays and are familiar with the community. We are stunned with the before-after photos once photographers were permitted to attend what remained.
On Facebook, I called someone an idiot. She complained valuable resources should help US citizens. The US education system is definitely faulty if she could not recognize Hawaii is the USA’s 50th state. Or she doesn’t appreciate the fact resources assist Indigenous Hawaiians while International governments moved in to assist their own citizens escape.
The cause of the Lahaina fire has not been determined.
The fires of the Northwest Territories seem to have started by lightning strikes on dry materials.
A Delta resident talked how the tundra is mushy. A person’s weight can squish the ground under your feet. Lately, it has been so hot and dry, the tundra now crackles with surface movement.
As I mentioned last week, observe local prohibitions and restrictions on campfires. Make sure the ground is wet and cool to your hands when it is put out. Avoid starting fires in windy conditions.
We can’t do anything about lightning strikes starting fires but we can exercise extreme caution with outside activities.
Of course, it is very sad not to be able to sit about a campfire and talk away the evening with family and friends, should it come to that or if a personal safety decision is made for prevention purposes. We have had particularly strong breezes the past couple of weeks, heightening the risk of fires getting out of control.
The last time we experienced fires along the Ingraham Trail, there was chatter of having a tanker truck or trucks available to put out fires, training local residents to operate the vehicle(s) and fire-fighting techniques. City vehicles do not go beyond City boundaries. The Trail goes a long way past such. Basically, people along the trail are on their own. These are our friends. They deserve planning and implementation of plans to deal with wild fires. Beyond the municipal boundary, responsibility falls to the GNWT.
It is noted the City is considering barriers to stop fires from coming into the community. Could this approach be considered for Ingraham residents as well?
Please do what you can to assist your neighbours who have lost their homes from banging nails on a new structure to providing hugs at the worst time of their lives.
Hug a fire-fighter.
And pray for Maui.
Be safe.