In addition to watching television reports of the wildfire that destroyed portions of Fort McMurray, Alta. last week, many Kamsack area residents kept up with the changing developments by following Facebook postings on the Internet, including those by former resident Russell Thomas.
The son of Lorraine and Charles of Kamsack, Russell, who has earned a reputation as an excellent portrait artist, began his postings of the approaching fire on May 1 when he said: “Dramatic view of the inferno in the Abasand area. Yikes! Either the wind has shifted or this thing is getting much bigger.”
Following are exerpts from Thomas’s Facebook posts made from May 1 to 5.
“Word has just come down that Prairie Creek is being evacuated,” he said. “As much as I like hot summer days in spring, this is not the best forecast for the job that lies ahead to put out these fires.”
Later, he said that the worst of conditions had developed: “a combination of temperature and relative humidity, expected around 3 p.m. Twenty-eight fire forestry fire fighters on scene with a total of 100 ordered from around the province.
“Truly never been more frightened in my life. I am so grateful to the first responders and the media folks who hung on to the end. To describe this as a catastrophic event is an understatement. We are all praying for the safety of every single person.
“I am so proud of my family for braving the exodus without me,” he said. “ I am proud of Dylan Thomas-Bouchier for working social media and sharing what is happening in real-time. I am proud of Ben Thomas, as he stays strong.
“It is the worst feeling in the world being separated from my family. I know I am not alone. I am doing the only thing I can, which is to communicate as best I can with the outside world. I will stay online and on the phone as long as is required. Godspeed to all those still making their way out of town. Bless you all. My heart is full, knowing that Heather Thomas is safe.
“I am so grateful to the Mark Amy Treatment Centre for allowing use (of its) facility as base of operation. I am doing my best to communicate with the outside world and will stay at my post as long as is necessary.
“It is hard to describe the day and hard to imagine the days that lie ahead. All that matters is that people and family are safe. I am so grateful to the amazing people at Mark Amy Treatment Centre for giving me a temporary home, computer, telephone and a place to stay connected to the world.
“My prayers are with everyone still on the highway waiting for gas to arrive. My prayers are with family members who are still trying to reconnect. And my prayers are with the amazing men and women who are battling this fire.
“For safety reasons, I am heading south to Edmonton in advance of potential changing winds. Wish me luck.
“I have arrived safe and sound in Edmonton.
“Thanks to Vicky LaPrairie, Heather Thomas, Dylan Thomas-Bouchier and Ben Thomas will be flying … to Calgary. We will finally be reunited as a family and will stay at Mike and Kathryn Wagner's house until it is safe to return to Fort McMurray.”
Accompanying Thomas’s words were several photographs.
“This graphic illustrates the incredible growth of the fire,” he said. “The emergency operation centre had to be moved several times. It is now three hours south in Lac La Biche. With high temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts of 70 kilometres an hour, it was a day from hell.
“I will be in Calgary in a couple of hours. I can't wait for my family to be fully together again.”
On May 5, Thomas said: “Together at last.
“I cannot express the relief I feel right now. My heart and eyes overflow.
“Soon we will be seeing scam "charities" raising money to help Fort McMurray. Where can we donate so that funds will be earmarked to help the people who were burned out?
“I literally evacuated Fort McMurray with nothing but the shirt on my back and flip-flops on my feet. I was rather smelly after a day and a half of running from the fire. Thank goodness that my friend Graham gave me some shorts, a clean shirt and clean underwear.
“‘I don't want them back,’ he said. (LOL)
“Our family reunited today in Calgary. The feeling of hugging them all the moment they walked in the terminal is something I will never forget.
“The gratitude we feel for every offer of help - space, meals, clothing, etc. - is profound. Just thinking about the generosity brings tears to my eyes. It has been a remarkable outpouring of kindness.
“We are among the fortunate. Our home is still standing, and as long as the situation doesn't devolve, we'll have a neighbourhood and a functioning community to return to.
“However, that return will likely be several weeks down the road, maybe longer.
“Thanks to Stan Taylor and Run Digital Inc., I will have a space to do my United Way work. My colleagues are scattered across the province, but we'll be using technology to begin the recovery planning. Our agencies will need all the support we can possibly give them.
“Today was my first opportunity to hear a firsthand account of what my family went through during those harrowing hours on Tuesday. I am so grateful for their safety and every person and organization who helped them, including Vicky LaPrairie for facilitating the flight out, and the guy who slipped Heather $60 to help in the effort to get to safety.
“There are too many miracles and acts of kindness that punctuate this experience to put in a single post or full-length book. I think it would take volumes to capture the narratives of the past three days. Bless you all.
“I know of at least one client who lost a house and one (or more) of my paintings. My commitment is to repaint any precious memories lost if you want me to. It may take me months, possibly longer, but this is one small way I can help.
“I guess I should say that this is assuming our house and studio are still standing. It appears that will likely be the case.
“As an evacuee of the Fort McMurray fire, it will be some time before I am able to get back to painting. I will need to beg the patience of my many clients waiting for commissions.
“The good news is that Birdsong Studio is still standing, and unless things change, I will have a studio to return to. However, it will be several weeks, possibly longer.
“Many clients have lost portraits I have done for them because of this horrible tragedy. I will be working on replacing those in the months and years ahead.
“Thank you for you kindness and encouragement.”
