A Fort McMurray family evacuated from their home is dealing with another blow: their car, full of irreplaceable family photos and mementos, has disappeared from their temporary accommodations in Edmonton.
Brandon Dalley and his young family had to rush to safety on Tuesday, May 3rd, when the wildfire came too close for comfort.
“I went downstairs, packed up and in three or four minutes grabbed what we could and we got out,” he said.
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Driving down Highway 63 was something the new father will never forget.
“Like something out of an apocalyptic movie. With all the traffic, people driving in the ditch and up the berms and on the sidewalks. It was crazy. It was 80,000 people going into panic mode.”
After leaving nearly everything behind, his step-father — who stayed to help fight the fires for a few days — was able to quickly grab some of the family’s photo albums.
“Baby pictures, their first steps, right from the hospital,” said Phil Dunphy.
“Their first day of school, lost teeth, soccer games, dance recitals. Everything,” his wife Sherri echoed.
When they went to sleep at their temporary townhouse in Edmonton’s Hazeldean neighbourhood, the photos were sitting in the trunk of their 2014 blue Ford Focus.
“We got up Friday morning and the car was gone. Along with our life,” said Phil, as his eyes welled with tears.
Dalley didn’t come home that night and Phil, Sherry and their dogs slept straight through.
“I’m kicking myself for it because I sleep on this couch at night, and had I been here maybe I would’ve heard,” Dalley said.
“My first teeth were in there. The clamp from my umbilical cord was in there. The first tufts of hair from my first haircut. Those are things you’ll never get back.”
All the family is left with now is a red suitcase and a small box of possessions until they’re able to return home. They have no idea when that will be.
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“For somebody to do this, after such a tragedy, is just horrible,” said Sherry.
“We moved in here, we’re trying to get settled and make the best out of the worst and then for that to happen it’s just like… why?” Dalley said. “What else can happen?”
The car has Betty Boop stickers on the back window and a bobblehead on the dashboard, along with a funny Las Vegas license plate on the front. But that’s not the family’s priority.
“It’s not the car. It’s really not the car. The insurance will take care of the car. It’s just the contents — the memories — that we cannot replace.”
The pictures were in a large purple suitcase, black duffel bag and another grey Adidas duffel bag. The family is hopeful the thief has a conscience, and a change of heart.
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“Put yourself in our shoes,” pleaded Sherry. “Do the right thing. We just want the memories back.”
The Dunphy’s have filed a police report. If you see the car or its contents, you’re asked to call police or submit a tip anonymously though Crime Stoppers.
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