It has been a long journey to Edmonton for Uzma Afroz.
Afroz had lived in Fort McMurray for five years until a massive wildfire forced her and tens of thousands of others out of the town.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire: Fire grows to 85,000 hectares, thousands in camps airlifted to safety
She and her husband got as far south as Janvier and then it was evacuated. On Thursday night, she and about 20 others arrived by bus at the Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton, where a temporary shelter has been set up.
“My heart is throbbing. It’s not a good feeling,” she said.
“I left everything at home. I have no idea what’s happening there.”
Afroz said she fled with only her purse and the clothes on her back. She never imagined she would be part of a massive evacuation.
“We thought we were living in a safe place,” she said.
“I don’t have words to express my feeling. It’s so painful.”
She plans on staying at the mosque until she figures out her next move.
“Right now, I’m lost. My husband here says we have to stick together and plan something.”
Shadab Fatima, her husband Imam Asjad Nazir and their two children also arrived on the bus Thursday night.
The family had escaped the blaze and made it to Anzac. Then they moved south to Janvier until that area was also evacuated.
READ MORE: Where Fort McMurray fire evacuees can get help and information
“It is terrible. It is so distressing, so devastating. I cannot explain my feelings,” she said as her voice trembled.
“We left our house as it is. We were not prepared mentally. We were not in condition to leave the house.”
Fatima said she left with nothing so she is grateful the mosque is welcoming the wildfire evacuees.
READ MORE: Live updates of Fort McMurray wildfire
The family is unsure what will come of their house in Fort McMurray. For now, they are just processing their experience.
“Time will heal this problem. My heart is crying. God bless everybody [so they] don’t have this problem.”
Omar Najmeddine, the executive director of the mosque, said there is a responsibility to help those in need.
“We feel we are partners with these people. Those are our families…and our brothers and sisters,” he said.
The mosque has created an eating area, sleeping area, playing area for the children as well as a private area for women. The set-up is temporary and is meant to help evacuees take a breath before deciding what to do next.
“Anybody that’s in need, we just open the doors,” he said.
Roughly 60 fire evacuees have arrived on the mosque’s doorsteps and another bus of evacuees is expected.
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