Fires (Page 6)

Canadian Red Cross volunteer David Wickingstad, who is currently fielding calls at the Kamloops HELP office, decided to help out because he knows what it’s like to be an evacuee. His community of 108 Mile in the Cariboo Region of BC has been under an evacuation order since Friday, July 7th due to the Gustafsen wildfire.

Gauthier is one of thousands of people pushed out of their homes due to a fast-moving wildfire that broke out Thursday, July 6 near the village of Ashcroft, BC.  The fire swept through her tiny community nearby called Boston Flats.  

Those who experience crisis situations are very likely to experience extreme stress – this is entirely normal. However, extreme stress can seriously affect your health and daily life. Here are some tips to help cope with stress.

Dry and severe weather caused wildfires to spread quickly throughout British Columbia, with approximately 100 wildfires sparked on July 7 alone. With a province-wide state of emergency declared, support is needed for thousands of families and individuals evacuated from their homes and communities.

Even when fire ravaged her recently renovated home, Saskatchewan resident Brenda Lyons didn’t think she needed support, initially declining Red Cross assistance; however, she discovered support was just what she needed to get her and her family through the long journey of recovery.

The signs of hope, strength and recovery are everywhere now when I visit Fort McMurray and the surrounding region in northern Alberta. It’s been slightly more than nine months since wildfires wiped out so much for so many there, and when I talk with people in Wood Buffalo, I still hear their struggles. But increasingly, I also hear more optimism.

There are various ways to celebrate the holiday season and many use decorations such as trees, lights and candles to show a festive spirit. Lighting candles, stringing ornaments, decking trees all make for merry holidays with friends and family, but it’s important to be aware of accidents at this time of year. Every year, common incidents include falling off ladders while hanging lights or decorations, cutting hands or fingers with scissors while wrapping or assembling toys, as well as electrical shocks.

In the middle of the night on Sunday, October 9, a house fire left six people in Bishop’s Falls without a home. Luckily, the residents of the small town in Newfoundland all had places they could stay that night. That morning, Thanksgiving, the local Red Cross was called.