Photo Credit: Windrum Family
In my dreams there are tornados. I cannot image experiencing the feeling of impending wildfires. Where do you go, which way do you run! The terror of natural disasters, no one wants to face that. In Saskatchewan we feel secure with the “land-locked” advantage. However, wildfires come in many forms and could easily manifest as raging grassfires. The northern forest fires and heavy smoke were a recent reality.
This week Rob Windrum spoke about the situation in Summerland, British Columbia. Rob and his wife, Janice are originally from Saskatchewan. Their move to Summerland took place in 1997. As business owners along the Okanagan Lake hearing of a raging wildfire unfolding is not likely on your bingo card. But we all know, you can’t live in fear, you can just be prepared and its unsure if we ever are.
In this two part interview you’ll get a feel for the community’s plan of action to evacuate as well as how planners put their energy into saving the infrastructure of the town, save and check on the livestock and hopefully get people back into a sense of normality. Canadians are well known to help neighbours and if you are like our family, years ago, it wasn’t unusual for our dad to take a road trip out to the Okanagan in the fall for apples, pears and other fruit. The point, in Western Canada there is a connection to this part of B.C. and therefore, we are concerned about family, friends and the fruit trees. Rob touches on the human element of the fires.
Red Cross is taking donations and will answer any questions you might have about assisting those affected by the fires.
Part One, the Evacuation and Part Two, Who’s helping and how others can help.
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