The Fort McMurray wildfire, which spurred an Alberta-wide state of emergency, continues to wreak havoc in the area.
Global News reporter Reid Fiest has covered Fort McMurray multiple times in the past, mostly for stories focusing on the energy industry and the pipeline debate.
This time however, Fiest’s return to the city showed him the resilience of the community already hurting from the slumping oil-dependant economy in a way he had never seen before.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray wildfire response now in ‘Phase 2’: officials
Fiest described the utter devastation he witnessed as heartbreaking, but below the burning brush he also saw stories emerge that celebrated life.
“In some ways, while the fire was damaging beyond belief, it renewed our human spirit. Out of the flames, generosity beyond belief,” Fiest said.
“Stories after stories of strangers helping one another. Albertans focused on what matters – each other.”
Watch Reid Fiest’s full report above.