The city that brought so many hard-working, honest people good jobs and steady income to provide for their families (including my own husband and so many friends) is a literal hell right now. With over 101,000 hectares of land on fire and over 1600 buildings in the city damaged, so many have lost everything.
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| When the fire was at 85,000 hectares, this is the area it would be consuming. It's 101,000 hectares currently. |
I've had the privilege of spending several weekends up north between "Tower Road" and "Clearwater" horse clubs. I am very proud to call many horse owners there my friends. On Tuesday, hell took over as a wild fire burned out of control. Many friends had packed up some horses and moved them to where they thought they would be safe. Some of them far away from Ft. McMurray, some of them in their own backyards. The fire grew and came into town so fast, may never got the chance to get back to the horse clubs for the remainder of their horses before the highways were shut down. Both horse clubs were fortunate to have a few members able to get in and open gates and let out the horses left behind. In my mind, playing out that scenario, not being able to take all of my equine companions to safety, having to open the gates to my pregnant mares and my young foal and his mom, my yearlings, and wishing them the best of luck, it brings me to tears.
From that point, the back-yard horses were stuck. My one friend rode her horse and ponies the second throughout the night to get to safety. I've seen viral pictures of more horses being ridden and led through the city or down the highway trying to keep safe and find a way out.
Good Samaritans have stopped and put horses in trailers and brought them to safety. Perfect strangers just ready to give a helping hand.
Countless teams have collected donations of water and fuel and headed up the highway to help people stranded by the evacuation - run out of gas on the side of the road, nothing but the clothes on their backs. Gas stations run out of fuel to sell... Dire situation.
The fire is still raging on.
Help is coming in. It is still such a dangerous situation, there's so many unknowns yet. I understand the military has sent in some members who located a herd of 14 horses in Tower Rd. It sounds like some are my good friends' boys. Prayers that they are! Many more left to be found. I heard of 70+ horses who need to be evacuated from a property up there and moved into permanent homes. I don't know if that's factual or not, but the numbers are staggering in a province that's tinder dry - no rain = no hay!
Several groups are working to collect donations. The Red Cross has seen MILLIONS donated in just a few short days. It's incredible to see the province, communities and people come together to help each other.
A facebook group: Farms for Fort McMurray is working quickly to set up collection depots throughout Alberta for donations of feed, supplies and money for horses displaced. They are working with the AEF and SPCA in their efforts. The Edmonton Garrison has graciously opened the barn doors at the stables for horses displaced and to be a central collection location to warehouse and inventory donations and ready donations for distribution by AEF and SPCA.
My roll? What I do best. I bring people together. A notice comes to me that someone is looking to have a fleet of trailers ready to move in to bring a herd out - I have that contact information. A notice comes in that there are tonnes of hay bales that need to be picked up and hauled to donation sites - I have that connection as well. When horses come to the garrison barns, I will be there to assist hands on with first aid, identification and care of received horses.
A portion of the proceeds of my upcoming first-aid clinics will go to purchasing of first-aid supplies for horses displaced by the fire.
In July I will be taking my disaster preparedness training with Equi-Health Canada to help people prepare for the unknown. This year it's a wildfire, but 3 years ago it was flooding. Disasters come in many forms.
Make a plan, be safe, hug your horses and loved ones.
Happy horseing.
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