Re: What is happening around you, around the world? Thread #2

[Nonina430]

Speaking for US first responders. I know nothing about Canadian
responders. I assumed it was similar. But certainly whom ever,
Kudos. Putting your life on line in order for others to survive 
is the greatest accomplishment in life. Thank you for the correction 
Auntie. Curious you don't have firemen? Who puts out the fire? Or is
it the forestry you mentioned. Pardon my ignorance.

[nd4reality]

Thanks for the updates AL. Please keep us informed. Poor things.

[GuardianAngel]

Yes we have fireman/firefighters. They are from the province of Alberta and other provinces have/are sending firefighters and water bomber planes. There's no way to control it other than rain, is what the latest I heard. It is 75 km away from the oil sands, hoping the winds shifts it into another direction.

Not only do I pray for safety of all the fireman emergency response police department, Red Cross, volunteers, but also thank all the communities that have welcomed the evacuees. They have set up town halls and school gyms into a mini department store with clothing toiletries food and whatever they need. They even brought in crates and pet food. They can just help themselves to anything they want. A large number of them were taken to the oilsands camps north of the city, but now they had to leave there as well. I believe that is the convoy that is heading south, back through their communities now to head to Edmonton or Calgary. They are getting the first look at the devastation. So sad.

I have donated to our local humane society who are requesting donations to help their humane societies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-exodus-convoy-of-evacuees-get-1st-glimpse-of-fire-ravaged-city-1.3569517

[Brill]

Yes we have fireman/firefighters. They are from the province of Alberta and other provinces have/are sending firefighters and water bomber planes. There's no way to control it other than rain, is what the latest I heard. It is 75 km away from the oil sands, hoping the winds shifts it into another direction.

Not only do I pray for safety of all the fireman emergency response police department, Red Cross, volunteers, but also thank all the communities that have welcomed the evacuees. They have set up town halls and school gyms into a mini department store with clothing toiletries food and whatever they need. They even brought in crates and pet food. They can just help themselves to anything they want. A large number of them were taken to the oilsands camps north of the city, but now they had to leave there as well. I believe that is the convoy that is heading south, back through their communities now to head to Edmonton or Calgary. They are getting the first look at the devastation. So sad.

I have donated to our local humane society who are requesting donations to help their humane societies.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-exodus-convoy-of-evacuees-get-1st-glimpse-of-fire-ravaged-city-1.3569517

Yes GA they are the ones that are being taken out in convoys now.  They are being escorted out front and back by RCMP cars.  Fifty vehicles at a time and a helicopter is flying overhead to make sure all is clear ahead.  There were about 20,000 that went north to the camps and those are the ones that are now being brought back south, the same way all the others went, they think it will take about 4 days to get them all out.

My hubby said the authorities are now saying that the fire is so big there is no way to stop it unless we get a lot of rain.  We've had basically nothing all spring and not much snow in the winter.  There is a ban of any kind of fire unless it is propane, in the Province.  Heavy duty fines if even caught throwing a cigarette out the window.  They want no one riding ultra terrain vehicles in case of sparks.  Of course some won't listen.

Lots are here and more coming.  Everywhere you go there are signs of what is needed to buy now.  Just this am they had a pancake breakfast downtown by the City Hall and anyone affected by the fire paid nothing and they raised $75,000.  It's going to take a long time, as it always does.  With the slowdown in the oil patch, I'm betting some will be heading back East which was home, not to return.

[GuardianAngel]

Some were already moving back East. Those that left years ago, but due to the oil situation, I know a few that have come back to my area because of lack of work. It's one thing to make that decision, sell your home, and move. It's a whole other thing when you loose everything, and have to move. I know many have relatives in Ontario and other provinces because of the mass exit years ago everyone was moving out west. I viewed a clip earlier where a gentleman watched his house burn on his Iphone, via his home security system. So very sad.

Canadians donated $30M to the Red Cross already. So proud of the way everyone is helping in whatever way they can even though we are thousands of miles away. That's wonderful they raised that much during the pancake breakfast.

This is going to take years to rebuild. In the meantime they are going to have to rebuild their lives elsewhere.

[Aunties_Love]

Speaking for US first responders. I know nothing about Canadian
responders. I assumed it was similar. But certainly whom ever,
Kudos. Putting your life on line in order for others to survive 
is the greatest accomplishment in life. Thank you for the correction 
Auntie. Curious you don't have firemen? Who puts out the fire? Or is
it the forestry you mentioned. Pardon my ignorance.

We do have firemen, and in fact some of the homes in Fort Mac were saved by firemen, but the notifying of evacuations, etc are done by the ministry of forests. There were 100 firemen, 200 forrestry fire fighters, several first responders in the form of ambulance/EMT's still in Fort Mac. Today, another 200/250 Forestry fire fighters are coming in from Ontario and Quebec today. The convoy of vehicles were able to head south but there are many more bunches waiting to head south. Hopefully they can get out tomorrow as supplies are limited and the fire is now moving a bit northward too. So glad my inlaws are out. They are saying now that it will take a long time to put out the fire and regular fire equipment isn't up to the task and are hoping for some rain to get things going.

If that wasn't bad enough, now there is a firestorm in northern BC as well. wide scale evacuations are happening there as well. My family there aren't taking any chances and are getting out early. Guess maybe that's a lesson from what's happening in FOrt Mac.

[Nonina430]

Just awful, let us all pray for rain. It's a wonderful thing to see people
come together to help at times like these. We see the best in us.
Auntie hope your family is safe  

[GuardianAngel]

Predictions it will double the size by the end of the day. Watching the vids are so heartbreaking.

cbc.ca/news/canada

Fort McMurray wildfire threatens to double in size by day's end

"We have substantially extreme fire conditions in front of us still for the next two days."

Morrison said the winds are expected to blow from the southwest pushing the fire northeast away from the community into the forested area.

If the fire does indeed double it will end the day at 2,000 square kilometres of flames, three times the size of Edmonton or Toronto.

"I can tell you that the estimated size is now up to 156,000 hectares and continuing to grow to the northeast," Matthew Anderson, wildfire information officer with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry said early Saturday.

For those who may know, did Slave Lake rebuild?

Continued prayers for all affected.

[bleuberry]

Ugh, so awful. My girlfriend fled to Edmonton with her husband and 3 kids (one of which is just 4 months old!). Their townhouse was ruined.

[hdman]

It's awful, my nephew is there fitting the fire.

[whit90]

My prayers are with all concerned Thank you Auntie, Brill, and Ga.
Just breaks my heart.......

[stuckinsc]

Bless him, hdman, and all the others who are fighting it or have been misplaced. And pray for some good hard rain.

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