EDMONTON- Edmonton based firefighters and Epcor employees are making their way to Calgary to assist with the city’s flood relief efforts.
Approximately 60 firefighters, along with all the equipment they’ll need, hopped into ETS buses and left Edmonton Sunday afternoon.
Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block says the crew will be in Calgary until at least Wednesday, helping out anywhere they can. But if more assistance is needed, Block says crews will rotate and change out “until they don’t need us anymore.”
“I’m very proud, as fire chief, that we’re able to provide some assistance to them. Because I absolutely know that they’d be there for us if the need was up here,” Block said Sunday afternoon.
Block says he started phoning his crew members around 8:00 a.m. Sunday, and by 11:00 a.m. he had all the help he needed.
“Firefighters help people and that’s what this is all about. They are absolutely happy to do it,” he said. “I’m proud of the staff and our commitment to the safety of all Albertans.”
And they’re not going alone. Heading south with the firefighters are 28 Epcor employees in 11 vehicles, including seven hydrovacs.
“Those crews are about to convoy down to our sister city to assist with power restoration over the next couple of days,” said Epcor spokesperson Tim LeRiche.
The extra hand will join six safety code officers and nearly 100 Edmonton police officers, who are already in Calgary helping with the devastating floods.
“It’s a great city and it’s a horrible event and we just hope everybody gets through it okay,” said Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.
Officials with each crew say service in Edmonton will not be impacted.
And while Calgary and Edmonton may not always have the best of relationships, there’s certainly no ill-will in times like this.
“We will send down everybody we possibly can as long as it’s not leaving the City of Edmonton in any jeopardy,” Mandel said.
“The tremendous devastation down there has been quite unbelievable… and we’re just hoping and praying that people get through it,” he added. “We’re all one province, one country.”
And the feeling is mutual.
“We have had calls for support from around the country and around the world and every one of them fills our heart with gratitude. But we have no better friends, of course, than our best friends in Edmonton,” Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Sunday morning.
With files from Vassy Kapelos, Global News.