For Canadians, May 15th will mark the first anniversary of the second most costly disaster in our country’s history. For Albertans, May 15th will mark one year since wildfires ripped a community apart, and saw them lean on one another to put it together again.
One year ago, with very little warning, roughly 7,000 people were forced to flee Slave Lake as flames encroached on the town. The massive wildfire destroyed 4,700-hectares, and left hundreds homeless.
As thousands tried to escape, area highways were thick with vehicles, packed with family members and friends, not knowing if they’d have anything to return to.
Local firefighters and RCMP officers jumped into action; trying to hold back the flames as many of their own homes burned to the ground.
Entire neighbourhoods were leveled, burned-out vehicles left sitting in driveways, the new town office burnt to the ground. The community was diminished into an ash-covered ghost-town in a matter of hours. 40% of the buildings there were destroyed.
Pilot Jean-Luc Deba, who was operating a water helicopter fighting the flames, died when his helicopter crashed. He was the only fatality from this disaster.
Slave Lake residents displaced by the fire stayed with relatives, or were set up with temporary housing in community centres across the province, including the Athabasca Regional Multiplex and the Edmonton Expo Centre.
Get breaking National news
Since May 15th 2011, Slave Lake has seen a number of high profile visitors; then-Premier Ed Stelmach, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Prince William and his new wife Kate.
In September, four months after the fire, students were able to return to school.
“When we finished up in the spring, the attendance was quite low,” explained Len Ramsey, guidance counselor at Slave Lake’s Roland Michener School. “Now, they’re back into a routine they’ve lost for a good three and a half months, so they’re at least initially happy to be back.”
Five and a half months after the fire, the government of Alberta issued a shocking discovery: the likely cause of the $700-million blaze was arson.
“Our investigation into the origin of that fire ruled out everything but arson as a probable cause,” Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) Minister Frank Oberle said in November. “As a result, we have delivered our findings to the RCMP to determine if a criminal investigation is the next step.”
The news came as a shock to many. Yvonne Gigge was eight months pregnant when she fled Slave Lake in May.
“It makes me sick to my stomach,” Gigge told Global News, “I think it’ll make it harder for a lot of people.”
Six months after the fire, the provincial government had spent nearly $300-million in fire disaster relief; some of that used to fund 263 modular homes where some displaced families are still living. The process of building permanent housing is underway, but it’s one that will take time, and patience.
“From the outset, all of us have agreed that it was imperative to get our people back, housed in our community, as soon as possible,” said Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee.
“We can’t bring back what we’ve lost regardless of the cause,” she said. “But having answers is definitely part of the healing, so we’re just going to let the experts do their work.”
Despite the immense tragedy, there were also moments of incredible kinship, support, and encouragement.
Slave Lake Fire Chief Jamie Coutts described how the sense of solidarity his crews felt when 38 fire departments dropped everything to help fight the fire in Slave Lake for two weeks.
“Within two or three days we were past all the ‘who’s this and who’s that.’ It was one of those movie moments where you could have ripped the crest of your sleeve and threw it in the dirt because it didn’t matter. You were a firefighter and you were there to save the homes of the people that live in our area,” he said.
Mayor Pillay-Kinnee also felt the support from surrounding communities, emergency crews, and the provincial government.
“It just makes me proud to be an Albertan,” she said. “We know we can rebuild with that kind of support.”
Nearly one year later, the progress continues, along with the optimism. “The rebuild is absolutely amazing,” explains Slave Lake resident Ian Cameron. “The town has pulled together and been surrounded by support from every corner of Alberta.”
Anyone with information about the fire in Slave Lake is asked to call police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.