Fort Mac Wildfire Thread

[Azure]

Some cool stories slowly being reported.

As the wind changed and wildfires pushed towards the north side of Fort McMurray, 16-year-old Jada Polem saddled up her horse and started riding through the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Confederation Way.

On Monday, her family had moved their three horses from the Clearwater Horse Club on the city’s south side to a north side campground they thought would be safe. But on Tuesday the winds shifted and in a matter of hours they were moving their horses again.

“We were waiting for trailers to come back to pick up my horse, but it became impossible for them to get through,” says Polem.

As the smoke became worse and worse, Polem’s father drove the truck and trailer that could only hold two horses while his daughter rode the third alongside. It was a terrifying prospect, as horses can be nervous in traffic, but Polem saw no other choice.

“She was a little nervous,” Polem says of her Quarter Horse mare Mya. “But she handled it really well. I’m pretty sure she knew what was going on

http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/...-wildfire.html

[jschick88]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

AMP Radio and that group of stations is doing a toy drive for kids of Fort Mac. I just stopped by to drop off some new LEGO and one of the bike shops from Calgary had a fewctrucks there dropping off new bikes. It looked like they had about 100 kids bikes. It was great to see especially because I know how much my kids love their bikes. My kids would be extremely bummed out if they lost their bikes or if we had to leave them behind so this will make lots of people happy.

Katie Summers ‏@katiessummers 11 minutes ago
The Calgary Firefighters Toy Association dropped off a TON of bikes this AM! Amazing! #ymm #yyc

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Thought I could provide some image updates from satellite fire detection systems. Red dots are new within 6 hours.
Fort Mac:

Spoiler!

High Level

Spoiler!

Fort Mac has a lot of new action to the SE. High Level looks to have gotten worse, spreading west. The other fire mentioned further south doesn't show up much so it must be fairly contained.

I posted how to access this yesterday, if you want to look for yourself here:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...&postcount=552
I can post updates if there is any interest. Doesn't take long to generate the images.

Fuzz, I really appreciate you posting these. Particularly the HL stuff. We have family (and lots of friends) up there. Thank you.

[Azure]

Deb MatejickaVerified account ‏@debmatejicka 7h7 hours ago
Air is getting thicker but we haven't been told to leave yet #ymmfire @weathernetwork @StormhunterTWN

[Azure]

Andrea Huncar CBCVerified account
@andreahuncar · 2h2 hours ago
Donations to the @redcrosscanada for Fort Mac evacuees already in the millions. #CBC #Yeg #ymmfires

[CroFlames]

I just keep hearing that "stuff" is not good to donate, yet there are drives and collection points set up.

Should we be donating stuff?

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Azure

Deb MatejickaVerified account ‏@debmatejicka 7h7 hours ago
Air is getting thicker but we haven't been told to leave yet #ymmfire @weathernetwork @StormhunterTWN

Poor guy on the right.

They really need to send in thousands of those masks and filters for the first responders. I use them almost daily and they wouldn't be able to smell a thing. Saw some videos yesterday where the first responders had nothing covering their mouth/nose, that can't be good for their lungs.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Fuzz, I really appreciate you posting these. Particularly the HL stuff. We have family (and lots of friends) up there. Thank you.

No problem. There hasn't been much change at HL, a couple new spots just to the east of the main blob.

Spoiler!

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I just keep hearing that "stuff" is not good to donate, yet there are drives and collection points set up.

Should we be donating stuff?

I think... don't load up your truck with stuff and drag it up. Instead, put it at an access point so it can be sorted and integrated into the response efforts for FMM and area when it is appropriate?

EDIT: I thought you meant you have something that you posses you want to donate. Yeah, don't buy and donate, send cash instead if possible.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Fuzz, I really appreciate you posting these. Particularly the HL stuff. We have family (and lots of friends) up there. Thank you.

Also, wind appears to be blowing from the NW, which is good for keeping it away from HL.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I just keep hearing that "stuff" is not good to donate, yet there are drives and collection points set up.

Should we be donating stuff?

Cash is king.

Don't go and specifically buy goods to donate. donate the money instead.

[DoubleF]

Supposed to be latest.

[Regulator75]

Driving right through the heart of the Fort McMurray wildfire. Unbelievable dashcam footage courtesy Michel Chamberland.

https://www.facebook.com/CTVEdmonton...68211/?fref=nf

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by jammies

Donated $100 on the Red Cross webpage.

For those who asked why the federal gov't is matching Red Cross donations, it's an easy way to quickly help, just like if you or I donate, plus it encourages people to give knowing that their money is multiplied. It's not like it stops them from doing whatever else they can and are asked to do.

I think this was asked upthread, but I never saw an answer:

Is it confirmed that all money raised/donated to the Red Cross for this disaster will be used solely in Alberta and in regards to providing assistance for this disaster?

I would be extremely disappointed if the money (especially the government-match money) ends up being "reallocated" by the Red Cross to go to, say, a Tsunami relief program in Singapore.

[polak]

God some people cut it close.

[polak]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I think this was asked upthread, but I never saw an answer:

Is it confirmed that all money raised/donated to the Red Cross for this disaster will be used solely in Alberta and in regards to providing assistance for this disaster?

I would be extremely disappointed if the money (especially the government-match money) ends up being "reallocated" by the Red Cross to go to, say, a Tsunami relief program in Singapore.

Yeah how dare they help non-albertans.

This attitude is exactly why you see the stupid FB posts from people outside of Alberta. You are the problem.

Red Cross doesn't just put supplies aside for each incident. What if people donate more than needed? You want them to throw it away?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by polak

God some people cut it close.

Don't think you realize how fast this happened.

[burn_this_city]

Donating stuff just adds to the logistical nightmare. Money gets directed where its needed. Who knows how much stuff is the right amount of stuff.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by polak

Yeah how dare they help non-albertans.

This attitude is exactly why you see the stupid FB posts from people outside of Alberta. You are the problem.

It's a valid question and one that should be answered in order to help people decide where their donations go.

If I'm donating $100 to help Fort McMurray, I want to know that my $100 is going to help Fort McMurray. If I'm told that $50 out of that $100 is going to some other place, I might choose to allocate my money differently.

The reason behind the Facebook posts is people who incorrectly believe that the Oil Sands are the biggest contributor to climate change and that those of us who live and work there are evil for supposedly profiting from the destruction of the Earth.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by polak

God some people cut it close.

He was sleeping as he was working night shift. Some up to a frantic call from a friend to gtfo.