After the Fire

In a forest, a wildfire starts small, usually with just a few sparks from an unexpected event like a lightning strike and the problem quickly grows. Very quickly what started as a small event becomes devastating as the fire rampages through the forest gobbling everything in its path.

For hundreds and hundreds of people who are part of the forest, the ferocity and the mercilessness of a wildfire uprooted their families, destroyed their surroundings and lefts some homes nothing more than piles of ash and twisted metal.

But, as a recent story in paNOW.com revealed, elders know that after total devastation comes blessings, and one northern resident commented that the elders told him after the fire, the blueberry crops will be amazing and that this is good for moose.

And, looking around, other blessings can be seen.

The incredible and immediate outpouring of concern from almost every sector of Saskatchewan was absolutely incredible. People were going through their closets looking for clothing, blankets, pillows; anything someone suddenly uprooted from their home would need. Children were going through their toys to see what they could give to make other children happy. The isles of the stores where razors, diapers, baby items, personal items would be were nearly empty day after day as people were buying these items for evacuees. I saw a woman in her 70s in Walmart with a shopping cart full of diapers – laughing that she hadn’t thought of diapers in years…but she was buying them for evacuees.

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Dropping things off at both Salvation Army and PAGC, there were tonnes of items to make the horrific situation of the hundreds of evacuees more bearable.

People were lining up in droves to volunteer for the Red Cross, and other agencies trying to help.

Musicians and entertainers donated their talents for a very successful fundraiser within days of the fire, not only raising thousands of dollars but also providing and continuing to provide throughout, entertainment for the evacuees.

And firefighters….let’s not forget the firefighters. Not only were the local firefighters on the scene immediately but the province came in full force and there was more than one story of pilots with compassion and mercy dropping water outside of their flight plan, to help a homeowner fighting to save his home and many other examples.

 Anyone who had ever been a certified firefighter was immediately requested to come to the rescue and most did – even though it involved being tested again.

Firefighters from all over the province and the country came in with their fire trucks and crews and the army came roaring in and didn’t just fight fires from tanks and armoured equipment but got right into the ground level tough slugging.

Firefighters are recognized for their incredible work; day after day after day facing literal walls of flames with axes, shovels and fire hoses in what must have seemed an entirely hopeless situation. I have known forest firefighters who, months after fighting such a fire would still wake up, dreaming of flames.

So hopefully there will be support services to help these special people, after the fire.

And reserves around the province opened up their doors to take in people – especially evacuees having a difficult time adapting to being in a city for such a long period of time and those reserves each provided not only comfortable lodgings, but traditional food and entertainment.

Really, anyone who could help, really did.

Today, July 17th, Montreal Lake residents have already returned home and La Ronge and area residents are preparing to do the same.

The fire is not over, but the immediate threat to most of the northern people is.

So, after the fire, Northerners know without a doubt that Southerners DO care about them.

After the fire – northerners can go home and see the devastation but know that regrowth will happen, that next summer the blueberries will be incredible and that the moose will be fat and happy and that the spruce cones that can only open their seeds in a fire will burst open and the forest will be renewed.

Already, we know that there are those who don’t have a home to return to and as a province we mourn you’re the loss of your home, your comfort zone, your special items that can never be replaced. But I am very, very sure that those homes will be rebuilt quickly and that those residents will receive an extra dose of caring and help.

After the fire, today, I am sure there are already plans in the works to honor the volunteers and firefighters.

After the fire – regrowth and renewal begins.