Something I Know Nothing About

On May 28th, Manitoba was declared in a state of emergency because of forest fires. A state of emergency is active for 30 days and can be continued. It ensures that provincial, federal and local resources are used in a coordinated way. Manitoba's premier Wab Kinew asked the Prime Minister, Mark Carney for military help to quickly move 17,000 people. It is being identified as one of the largest evacuation of people in Manitoba's history. Twenty-seven communities are evacuated and 21,000 people are relocated.  

To date, the fire report stated there has been 116 fires. Of those fires, 100 were human related, only 7 were a result of natural causes and the rest are being investigated. Currently, there are 29 active fires, 10 of which are out of control. One of those fires was described as seven times the size of Winnipeg. 

The minister for EMO has asked people in Canada not to visit Manitoba. They want to keep the hotel rooms free for evacuees. Only essential travel is being recommended. 

Something I know nothing about is, how it must feel to leave your home and head for safety because of a forest fire. Thousands of people have had to drive away in a heavy dangerous smoke to get to safety. Knowing that they may never see their home or belongings again. This is not just happening in Manitoba, every province and territory is dealing with forest fires. Over half of the fires are burning out of control. 

The evacuation plans are massive. Many evacuees have arrived at safety with just the clothes they have on their back. To watch the videos and see the long line of people driving out of their community is scary and heartbreaking. That is if they have the option of driving out. Some are coming out on a plane or by helicopter. Earlier in the evacuation process the military planes C-120 Hercules were landing at the Brandon Airport with evacuees. I noticed an article where the C-120 recently transported the vulnerable people out of Norway House. I am sure these planes have been kept busy. 

Just imagine living the quiet life in the far north one minute and then an evacuation order has been given, and you are on a plane or helicopter to a safe place. The next thing for these people is living in a hotel room in a city somewhere. It must be an unreal feeling. It doesn't go well for some of them, and that is unfortunate. Some evacuees have never been out of the north. If the situations were reversed, I doubt we would function well in their environment. But they are out of the path of a forest fire and the day will come when they can return home. 

I don't even know what it feels like to live surrounded by forest. A forest that could one day be an inferno. I think back to the Los Angeles fire last year. If money could stop a fire that would be the case, but it raged on. The rich and famous lost their homes right along with the not rich and famous.

Something I know nothing about is, fighting fire. Day, after day, after day, those brave men and women work long hard hours to control what must seem like an uncontrollable situation. As the bombers drop water from the air it must seem like a futile effort. It is inconceivable to me, for the firefighters to get one fire under control, and then they have to go right to a fire that is out of control. 

Something I know nothing about is, the Red Cross. The people that work or volunteer for the Red Cross are incredible. The magnitude of relocating the thousands of people is something I can't even imagine where you would begin. Once relocated, the Red Cross makes sure people have food, resources and are safe. They just take care of it, they know what to do and they have the people that do it. All they ask of us is, that we donate. 

For most of us living in the south, our biggest issue is the smoke in the air. Many days the air quality is bad, but how can we even complain. I can't imagine the air quality closer to the active fires. Or the masks the firefighters have to wear all day, every day. For me as bothersome as it can be, I can endure a little smoke. 

In closing, I hope the rain will come to the north to give the firefighters a much-needed break. I realize it takes more than rain to stop the fires, but it would be a start. It is hard to believe that Canada's beautiful north is on fire. To think that most of this disaster could be avoided, is uncomprehensible. We need to do better.