How the Fort McMurray Wildfire Changed My Life

Today marks one year ago that I along with two other ladies, drove up to the City of Fort McMurray which had been evacuated. 88,000 people fled their homes. This was a ghost town save for the Firefighters and other first responders.

During that evacuation Deputy Fire Chief Cranley Ryan's daughter and her friend were killed in a horrific vehicle crash. Mercifully, for a city about to loose so much, these two young and promising lives were the only lives lost.

However, every life touched by the Beast, would remain forever changed.

There are numerous documentaries, numerous stories being told.

Mine is just one of many.

Like millions of horrified Canadians, I watched the Beast threaten Fort Mac and force an evacuation of epic proportion on May 3rd, 2016.

On May 4th I heard Fire Chief Darby Allen say his men and women were exhausted and hungry and my heart was called to go feed people.

Lynda Klouth and Jessica Kappel journeyed with me up there, Jessie to stay and fight fires, Lynda left to go and get more supplies and I stayed to feed people.
I am grateful for the journey that took me to Fort McMurray.

It taught me so much about myself and others. In most cases my faith in human nature was restored.

Some of the memories from Fort Mac are painful, like watching a fire fighter trying to look after his swollen and blistered feet, blisters on the soles over an inch think and yet, when his captain called, he jammed his feet back in his boot and off he went...watching men and women who were so exhausted they were trembling, sleeping on the hard ground, the floor - literally dropping out of sheer exhaustion. Being interrogated by the police three times and on Mother's Day of all days...

Some of the memories are sweet, tender and heartwarming like the little girl who recognized fire fighter Jessica Kappel and ran up to her to thank her.  Or the Edmonton Fire Department taking over the cooking of Breakfast on Mother's Day along with Jeremy Hall, making sure all moms and ladies got a special breakfast thanks to the Pine Haven Hutterite Colony and their farm fresh eggs and homemade sausage.  Another sweet moment is when Keltie May Nicole replaced my stolen "Sparky" dog with one out of her team's Fire rig.

Yes the Beast stole a lot in those days, but actually, I think in someways it gave back far more....
It gave me back faith in humanity, in myself and it has changed how I view tragedy.

For those who are interested, see is a list of the articles I wrote - my diary if you will:

Part One:
http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mcmurray-part-one.html

Part Two: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mcmurray-part-2.html

Part Three: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mcmurray-part-3.html




Part 4: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mcmurray-part-4.html

Part 5: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mac-part-5-truck-woes.html

Part 6: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mac-part-6-nicole-from.html

Part 7: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/05/my-time-in-fort-mcmurray-part-7-justin.html

Part 8: http://beltdrivebetty.blogspot.ca/2016/06/my-time-in-fort-mac-part-8-love-letters.html

Glenn Chaulk - Syncrude Fire

Until next time, I am Belt Drive Betty, Editor & Rider and one GRATEFUL human being!

Ride Safe....

A VERY SPECIAL Series on The Fort Mac Wildfire & The Riding Community

I know I have not been writing as much as you had all gotten accustomed to, but I have been very busy working on a ton of very special projects. And when I say a ton, I am not exaggerating, not even a little. From launching our new Rider Friendly Business Association Directory to working on the TV Show Ride Like a Local, the Afghanistan Monument Project, Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community Contest for the 2016 riding Season and a host of other items, well, writing has had to take a bit of a back seat.

What I have been working on gave me shivers and the urge to write became larger than the looming deadlines I am working under.

I have been blessed to interview some of the riders who were instrumental in keeping people fed and cared for.  Some of them I worked with, others that worked behind the scenes, that never got the notoriety or hugs.

I am proud to announce that Ride Like a Local will be sharing a very special 3 (Maybe 4) Part Series called "The Fort Mac Wildfire & the Riding Community".

Watching the footage of the first interview with my friend and a human being I admire deeply, Jeremy Hall, I can't tell you how overwhelmed with pride I am.

I am proud to be a part of a community, as divided as it can be sometimes, (YES we have our own breed of prejudice, our own brand of disfunction as a family)...


You see, there were people who are normally not colleagues, not friends, hell some of them down right dislike each other and yet, they all put personal feelings aside and dug in to do what they all knew was right.

The breadth and depth of the humanity that the riding community can exhibit during times of extreme need is breath taking. I had always known we were a tight crew and that regardless of our personal bias, situations, mind sets - we were all more alike than different and Fort Mac proved it to me time and time and time again.

I can't wait for you to see from other people's perspective that they saw and experienced the exact same things I did.

Jeremy and I both got some publicity out of Fort Mac, neither of us went there seeking it.
But I do believe that the interviews we both gave on radio and TV helped the non riding world look at our community just a little bit differently.

The sad thing about radio and TV in the mainstream world is they can offer you a two minute or a 10 minute look into what happened and that's all.  They pick and choose what they want you to hear and see.

They do their best in that short bit of time to tell the story but I am here to tell you that to tell Jeremy's story alone is gonna take up 2 - 30 minute episodes.
The people he acknowledges for their help and support all deserve to be publicly recognized.
His story is compelling and deserves to be really told.

I wrote somewhere around 9 Blog Posts only time in Fort Mac and didn't come close to thanking everyone, or telling all of the stories that could be or should be...

I hope that my editor Mark and myself can present a body of work that will make the riding community stand proud.

From coast to coast we had the support of riders from across this country who represented pretty much every cross section of the on road motorcycle community.

From the Red Knights to the Hells Angels and every cut in between, this community has a lot to teach the rest of society I believe.

When you see these interviews and hear from these people what they went through, what they witnessed and experienced, it is my hope that you see the same thing I see.

Until next time, please enjoy these last weeks of the riding season and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

My Time in Fort Mac - Part 8 - "Love Letters" & Gifts

While there are many other stories that yet need to be told, some wonderful, some not so much...there is something very special I want to share today about My Time in Fort Mac.

A person never responds to a tough situation like Fort McMurray's Wildfire by thinking about the gifts they would get, but as I found out, gifts and "Love Letters" as I call them have been coming in to me in a rather big way.

From the gang at A1 Supply

These letters (emails & texts) and gifts mean the world to me. They were given to me as a direct thank you for the hours I put in as a volunteer. They are accepted and cherished by me knowing full well that I had a team behind me, but that I also did my part to bring some comfort and nourishment to those who valiantly fought the "Beast".

Forever, these special treasures, will remind me of a time that I am so grateful to have been a part of; a time when this motorcycle community supported the firefighters of Fort McMurray and all of the fire teams who came to support them as well.

From the FM Firefighters Assoc.
Coin, T-shirt & Patch

There are no words to express how full they make my heart as I remember the faces, the names, the smiles, the tears, the tiredness, the kindnesses that were shared during this tragic time in our province.

There simply are no words that can fully convey how I feel and so I want to, need to share these with you and want to understand that for whatever role you played in aiding me in my quest to help the tremendous team of Fort Mac - wherever they came from, these letters are as much for you as they are for me.

Challenge coins from the Alberta Sheriffs
Legacy Place Society, An eagle gnome bell
Coin from Glenn Chaulk; Syncrude FD,
& The Volunteer Firefighters

 ‪Jade Robinson /react-text  Betty was the first face we seen when we arrived in Fort McMurray after travelling from Calgary. She was also the first face you seen every time our rigs came back too the staging area. Thank you Betty for everything you did for us, you were appreciated!!!

‪Brock Adams /react-text ‪ She looked after us, walking the line of trucks bringing us what we needed or wanted. "Guardian Angel" is perfect, thank you Belt Drive! Thanks Global for telling her story, she deserves recognition

‪Austen Tanney /react-text ‪ She fed me 5 meals! Belt Drive Betty is amazing and a saint! Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou

Pins from Leduc City Fire and
the Alberta Sheriffs 

‪ Bronwyn Taylor /react-text ‪ This wonderful woman was like our own mama bear taking care of us for the 6 days we were there. Wonderful soul.

‪Darcy Lemieux /react-text ‪ You'll always be in our Hearts and prayers Betty keep up team up all the good work

‪Love from your friends @

‪Mac island

‪Darren MacDonald /react-text ‪ Thanks Betty. For the many nights on duty, you fed me.

‪Colin Hargrove /react-text ‪ Made me a sandwich at 4am and then gave me a hug, sure knew how to make a man cry.

‪Thanks again!!!!!!

Stuffed Firehouse Dalmation
from Jim of
Leduc City Fire Dept.

‪Trey Hale /react-text ‪ She fed my crew and I while we were there ! Absolutely amazing! Thank you from the bottom of my

‪Heart!

‪Danny Freeman /react-text ‪ Not only a Godsend but a giggle too! Thanks Betty

‪Matt Rice /react-text ‪ This is a great lady and I met her while she was in FtMac

‪Darrel Comeau /react-text ‪ I'm glad I finally got to put a face to this womans voice! We dropped off supplies and there was hot coffee ready for us, and she was sleeping on a cot with a tiny sleeping bag, curled up and freezing. So I grabbed what we had in the trailer for blankets and sleeping bags and just hope I made her a little warmer like she did for our crew. So if anyone knows her personally, tell her thank you.

A gift from Carol Conrad

‪Emmy Hoover /react-text ‪ Thank you so much for taking care of my brothers and sisters out there. You have no idea how loved and appreciated you really are. I don't even need to ask them to know. God bless you and all you do for them. You have a heart of gold sweet lady!

Candace Ash Lawlor

I understand that you have undertaken feeding and providing support to the firefighters and RCMP members who are on the ground in FMM? I'm a spouse of a retired RCMP corporal and I help run a support group for RCMP wives. I've heard from several that they have been concerned about the lack of food, etc available for our members and the other first responders so I wanted to thank you for all that you are doing and wondered if you are accepting etransfers to help provide for the first responders that I could pass along to our group to see if we can help out a bit? Unfortunately, having been through this several times with my husband deployed in the past, I know all too well that they often get forgotten in the chaos and I am so thankful that you've stepped up to make sure that isn't happening there.

‪Colton Boutin /react-text ‪ The legend. One of the first things the crew we were replacing said was the Motorcycle people will feed you. She worked hard up there. Even cleaned the bathrooms for all of us fire guys. Thanks Betty

‪Dave Roe /react-text ‪ I had a good long chat with Betty and the challenges and struggles she faced to provide food for those in the early days of this crisis. Thank you Betty for your perseverance and watching out for us. It isn't just a boost for our energy but a boost for morale to see you supporting us. Thank you

‪Brad Kelly /react-text ‪ 
I saw this woman every day I was at staging and I often wondered if she slept. Always very willing to help and do what she could for everyone.
The guys running the BBQ were non stop as well. Thank you for your support. It didn't go unnoticed and was very appreciated.

‪Catherine Bonner /react-text ‪ This gal fed my hubby, Rob Bonner and the boys in the middle of the night. She slept on a cot and wouldn't leave making sure everyone and anyone fighting the fire were fed any time, day or night. What a woman!

‪Emmy Hoover /react-text ‪ Thank you so much for taking care of my brothers and sisters out there. You have no idea how loved and appreciated you really are. I don't even need to ask them to know. God bless you and all you do for them. You have a heart of gold sweet lady!

‪Ian Husband /react-text ‪ I met this lady while I was up there helping out. What a wonderful person and what a great thing she did for all the front line people.

‪Mike Gavin /react-text ‪ I had a chance to meet Betty while I was up there she's defiantly a kind soul.

Jesse Bowdige

Hi Renee,

Thank you so much for what you did in Fort Mac. I saw your interview on global news and had to reach out to you. I was part of the first group of Edmonton fire fighters to head up north. You made me a sandwich and some watermelon - which was the first "meal" I had eaten in 2 days.

Here is a picture of me (the one you're leaning on) and my crew. We called you out "Fort Mac mom" for taking such good care of us.

Your friend,

Jesse

Hi Renee, I just want to thank you again for everything you did for us while we were in Fort McMurray,  you kept us going.  I hope you realize what a difference you made.  You are our Hero!!

Cam Priesltey- Cold Lake Fire-Rescue

Dee Leigh

Mrs Charbonneau,

I just wanted to say, thank you, for your efforts in assisting the Emergency Responders in Fort Mac. As a police officer, I wanted you to know that your efforts don't only impact those fighting fires in Fort Mac. It's a beautiful reminder of how good people can be. There truly is 'honour in service' knowing that people like you are out there. Thank you for looking out for our brothers and sisters in Fort Mac. Seeing the goodness in others makes donning a bullet proof vest and a gun everyday worth the risks.

Cheers and much respect to you Mam, and your biking community, for your assistance with emergency responders working in Fort Mac and the surrounding areas.

Kindest regards,

Sr. Cst. D. Lamont #0164

Windsor Police Service

Windsor, Ont

Canada

Claudia Parks Locke Thank you Betty,

You fed & supplied my crew up there & we thought you had just the most infectious personality! You should be very proud of the huge impact you made on so many in such trying times.

Thank you sista!

Sarah Lynn

I was one of the firefighters in Fort Mac. I gave you a hug before leaving but wanted to say thank you again for everything! You are an amazing person for all you do and for smiling throughout the 5 days I was there.

Jade Robinson

Thank you for the friend add Betty!! And thank you so VERY MUCH for everything you did for us up in Fort McMurray.

YOU were a welcome sight!

Bronwyn Taylor

Hi Renee,

You were my little angel mama when our crew from Parkland County was there. Not sure if you will remember me and Craig, he needed chew and I needed gum

wink emoticon

We worked a lot of hours with very very little sleep and not much food.  You were our first cup of coffee in days.  I wanted to send you a shirt off my back if you will allow, just need an address to send or drop it off to.  In the fire service we like to share Tshirts with each other as a sign of brotherhood/family, I would like to give you one of mine to welcome you to our family.  Please let me know.  Thank you again, you were a wonderful warm sight for many tired eyes and bodies.

‪Jasmine Hale /react-text ‪ Very happy to have met you girl!

‪glad I was able to assist you for awhile when you needed a break before going back to my fueling emergency vehicles. Bless your heart! Hugs!

The photos below were sent to me by Troy and the crew from RapidFire with the following caption:

With Love from RapidFire, We Salute You

Because of a very public thank you made by the St. Albert Fire Department, Hall #3,  on the Current with Anna Maria Tremonti: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-23-2016-1.3596302/fort-mcmurray-fire-firefighters-share-stories-from-the-frontlines-1.3596322 

I was interviewed by CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-13-2016-1.3580576/belt-drive-betty-feeds-2-000-first-responders-with-fort-mcmurray-sandwiches-1.3580590

And later by Global, again thanks to that very public "Thank You" from the boys at St. Albert Fire Hall #3!

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalEdmonton/videos/10153397407920927/

And now, on top of it all I have been nominated for the Post Search for Goodness Contest:

https://searchforgoodness.com/en/home#browse_nominations

PLEASE consider voting for me as if I win the $10K I will put 50% towards the building of the wheelchair accessible scooter for CF Veteran Eric Magill and the other 50% to the Afghanistan Monument I am spearheading here in Grande Prairie AB. Please consider voting for me, and if I win, I will spread some goodness!

You can find me by looking up my name - Renee 

In closing off this part of "My Time in Fort Mac",  I want to acknowledge the many people and businesses that contributed to helping me help them:

My husband, Mark Charbonneau, your support as always, means the world to me.

My contractor and good friend, Lynda Klouth who drove her truck and holiday trailer filled with people and supplies.

Costco Grande Prairie for their generous donation to our first truckload.
UFA Grande Prairie and Athabasca for the fuel on that first trip.

The citizens and businesses of Grande Prairie that helped fill that first truck...see the photos on the side to see some of those wonderful souls who helped out in those first hours...

I am sorry I don't remember the name of the Orthopaedic Surgeon's office that donated $360 Cash but I do remember the donation.

Jeremy Hall and Will Skinner - Jeremy also arranged for many supplies over and above volunteering as I did.

Jessica Kappel - a volunteer firefighter who lives in Grovedale and who organized all of the fuel and water the firefighters needed, not to mention her ability to have us on the ground and serving these firefighters and first responders.  Without her, getting in there may have proved far more difficult than it did.

Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, thank you for the discounts you gave us on medical and personal supplies!


My buddy, a man I call bro, Kevin O'Conner enlisted the help of so many:
Garry and his Team from Wetaskiwin CO-OP Grocery Store; Guy & Jeff from A-1 Rentals (without you guys these much needed supplies and food wouldn't have gotten to Fort Mac); Tim & John and all the wonderful members of the Pine Haven Colony (The delicious baking from Jeff's Mother-In-Law); Linda Lee, Tiffany & their Team at Shopper's Drug Mart; Colleen at Value Drug Mart; Insaf & Mahmoud at Guardian Drugs; Paul & Nick at Wetaskiwin Shell; Hans Broere from Broere Electric/A.C. Dandy and all the GENEROUS personal and cash donations from Linda Lee, Jigar, Tiffany, Cathy and Deborah Teske as well as from our own Wetaskiwin Court Clerks & Wetaskiwin Court Sheriff's.

Gloria Swan and her amazing help in supplying 50 air masks and filters.

Nicole from Slave Lake for the Subway Sandwiches and cookies and the Yoga mats and other supplies!

Mark LaFountaine and his lovely wife Tammy - their business is hurting hugely from this economy but they dove in and gathered all sorts of supplies.  Dave Perra from Perra Leatherworks who drove all night and the couple from Barrhead who drove a load of supplies in late one evening.

Kristy Falconer and her hubby Rob and the gang from the Red Knights in Victoria BC and those who helped fill the truck with medical supplies for first responders and donations to evacuees.

Bear Lamont who arranged extra air filters and shipped them up via St Albert Firehall #3.

Steve and the guys from clubs unmentioned for providing all sorts of support to first responders as well as evacuees.

God help me I don't want to forget any one, but I am sure I will so please forgive me if I didn't acknowledge you. My mind is working overtime...

There were a host of people who donated cash, some as little as $15 and others as much as $500 and $1,000.

Special mention to Roy Eckmeier, my Uncle Bob Poitras, Darren Burry and the IOMC, Suzie 7 Gator Healy, Laurie Clark, Candace Lawlor, Terry Hoet, Blair Weber, Nick Newall, Tracy Lynn Schuarart, Allison Hindman Linda Magill, Ray Howland, Gary Adolph, Tracy Nessler, Kim Newberry on behalf of the Camrose Cadets, Jana Rosenburg, Kevin Kurtz, Leslie Allen, Suzanne Kutaj, Bob Ross, Run to the Hills Rally, Holly Sorgen, Neil Hein, Dora DiFrancescomarino....

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone in my circle who helped us out.

Every donation was valuable and needed and I don't want anyone's contribution neglected if humanly possible. On the very good probability that I have forgotten someone and their contribution, please accept my deepest apologies and know it was not intentional.

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

SaveSave

My Time in Fort McMurray - Part 7 - Justin Sickkamore's Story

While helping out in Fort Mac, a number of people came in to volunteer. Most of these people came in after the first 48 hours of me being there so we had limited opportunity to get to know each other.

Jodi Dick and Justin

Now Justin and I only met a few times up there, we were both really busy doing the tasks we had taken on. I knew that he was living up here in GP and I reached out to him and asked him to share his story with all of you.

In his own words, here is Justin Sickkamore's Time in Fort Mac:

This whole surreal relief effort that I was fortunate enough to be a part of all began for me with a phone conversation with my good buddy and mechanic at Bulldog, Sam Stuart. From this conversation began for us an outpouring of support that was monumental to say the least.

Sam and his pal Scott White, a mechanic at Ferus, got us rolling with a 20' enclosed trailer from Ferus and a 25' flat deck. From there Blaine Swanson, Kyle Cadman, Darrell Carek and Kris Klapstein from Bulldog Energy Group offered me full support, gave me unlimited access to fuel cards and offered me as much time off as I needed.

Bull Dog Energy Group

We made contact with the lovely Jodi Dick at Pat's Auto here in Grande Prairie, she agreed for us to stage our trailers at her facility on the main drag up north and also to manage the donations for us and get the trailers loaded up, freeing us up for other things. We also started taking donations at Bulldog's shop, which we shared with Jeff Bateman and Tired Iron Mechanical just outside of town. The outpouring was unimaginable, Grant Production Testing GP showed up with a full pallet of necessities, Cole with 10K Rentals here in GP, same thing, and on and on.. By the end of the day we had 4 trailer loads ready to roll and roll they did. By 8 pm we were pulling out of GP and Edmonton bound to hit the relief center to see if they needed anything or if we could transport for them, unfortunately we had no luck in Edmonton as we arrived late, we carried on, Sam and Scott stopped in Fort Saskatchewan for a sleep. But I couldn't I had to carry on, by daybreak I was rolling into Conklin.

It was chaos, RCMP just arriving, fires raging, confusion, virtually no supplies it was unreal. I was talking a gentleman who didn't even manage to grab shoes in the mayhem of the evacuation. He got the Globes off of my feet. I had managed to think ahead a little and grab my PS3 and some games from my room for stranded kids, and the smiles on the faces of the kids that I gave it to in Conklin were priceless! Also I feel the need to mention all the amazing and hard work done by those working at Conklin Lodge sorry that I don't remember your names. But my time was up in Conklin, so after filling up about 10 RCMP cruisers I had to keep going, someone told me there was a small town named Janvier up the 881 so off I went. When I arrived in Janvier I was informed they were under a boil water order and were running out of drinking water, luckily I had 50+ cases on my trailer, which I dropped off. They were so grateful their hugs and smiles reinforced in my mind why I needed to be here.

Then I finally met "the beast" I got cut off at Anzac on Hwy 881 and wheeled around by RCMP (who gratefully accepted some granola bars etc.. I had to pin it (and I mean pin it, my poor GMC) to the K-Road cut across and got to Wandering River. The wonderful volunteers who were already setting up in Wandering River picked thru my stuff took what they needed and sent me on my way. Hit a few stores restocked my trailer with what money I had left grabbed 28 cartons of smokes for firefighters and off I went.

I arrived at the barricade on Hwy 63 at Hwy 881 and was once again face to face with the monster, I dropped my trailer on the southbound side of the 63 and opened the doors and set up a makeshift display for evacuees to stop and grab what they needed as they fled their beloved homes. I spent the night in my truck on 63 met a few stragglers who grabbed supplies. Two that really stick out were a father and his young boy, stopped and grabbed tooth brushes and simple things and that little boy hugged me so tight, just went to show the chaos and desperation for the simple things that we take for granted daily. The fire in Anzac got bad, bombers dropping water right beside me on the highway,
that's when Ezra Mackenzie showed up from Bulldog with about 1000lbs of burgers, pork chops etc for Firefighters. That was my in, that's how I got security clearance and was put in contact with an amazing man by the name of Jeremy Hall. Jeremy was our (the volunteers') leader in this time of chaos, he is who I turned to with questions up there and who held the behind the scenes together for us volunteers. That man gets huge, huge respect from me always, he's someone who could always call on me in life or death situation and I'd be there no questions. So I'm in and as I drive towards Mac Island it resembles what I would imagine an apocalypse looking like, abandoned vehicles everywhere scattered on the roads, a city bus jammed in the median just surreal. Then I arrived at Mac Island where my new family for the next week immediately surrounded me. With 28 cartons of smokes on board, I started making friends fast lol (the 28 cartons I gave away every last pack in 6 hours flat, just an example of how desperate conditions were at first)

I immediately turned to Facebook, posting my phone # and the fact that I was at Mac Island and that we needed supplies. The public response was tremendous; my phone went off the hook. Then I "called out" Tim Horton’s asking why we didn't have a mobile station for these heroes. Within three hours I received a call from this wonderful little Nova Scotian lady Natalie Stephen who just so happens to run a Timmy's mobile Van out of Edmonton. That determined angel on earth jumped through hoops and made arrangements to get up there and do you know what? That little soldier is still up there today I just talked to her. Kudos to you Natalie! Then I met Belt Drive Betty, I immediately recognized her passion and huge heart, I also met Jody Hudek, an amazing soul who after losing it all stayed and worked round the clock with me feeding volunteers, Will Skinner from GP, the cook who actually had skills! LOL.

Then I got a message from a man in Red Deer, a Mike Veroba, owner of Renegade Oilfield Service, who informed me that with the help of Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson had tirelessly filled 4 that's right four 53' trailers full of supplies. Mike and I collaborated and organized where to send needed supplies. Mike even managed to get $2300 worth of chew for the firefighters who had been looking for some for days.

Then I fired up the BBQ's that the community center had on site and we started getting some warm food out to the heroes on the ground. Will and I ran that grill day and night for days, I told the boys no matter 4:30pm or 4:30am I'm not a cook but I can grill some burgers and there will be hot ones waiting if anyone wants one. I wasn't aloud to help with the fires (I tried lol) it's the least I could do. I was putting out anywhere from 300-500 burgers a night from only 11pm to 4am. But seeing the smiles on those tired, wet and hungry heroes firefighters and RCMP alike made it all worthwhile. A few days later, On Fire Barbeques in Beaverlodge sent up a beaut of a grill capable of doing roughly 100 burgers at a time making my life and that of Will’s sooo much easier, thanks guys. I jumped in the forklift and started offloading trucks, ran around organizing supplies and finding out what people needed and communicating that to the outside world through Facebook.


Then on Sunday, Mother's Day, I had the pleasure of meeting this gem of a woman from GP named Jessy Kappel, a true hero, away from her beautiful daughter on mother's day fighting to save the city for strangers, all with this sometimes forced smile on her face and determination in her eyes, going hard 20+ hours a day. I have mad respect for that woman, what a soldier.

Then came the day we got the word we were getting the boot from Mac Island, I was so disappointed, I'd still be there if they'd let me, but anyway, we loaded up roughly 1500lbs of dog food that was left over at Mac Island and headed out of the city a little over a week after we got in. We hit two "RV cities" south of the city, and dropped off probably about 300lbs of food to hungry dogs and a bunch of meat and odds and ends for the humans too. The rest we delivered to Lac La Biche and even given my 1:45am arrival in Lac La Biche we were graciously welcomed by the Lac La Biche Humane Society who even helped me offload the truck! I think I finally saw a bed for the first time in over a week in Spruce Grove at about 4:30am. Crashed and got back up to meet Ben Sauve and Tania Marowchuk, two evacuees I had been in contact with on Facebook and had coffee and a chat, their positive attitude amongst all the chaos was really uplifting.

Finally back to GP, day 13 I think, I lost track, I met up with my best friend's sister Tiffany Reid, her man Adam Nicholson and their two wonderful kids Madox and Lola. Lovely Miss Lola's bike had been stolen from their front lawn their first night in GP (way to go GP) and I saw Tiffany's post on Facebook looking for a bike for her. I didn't have much left but I really wanted to help them. So I scrounged up my last $150 and off to WalMart we went, and with the help of the wonderful assistant manager Rhonda at WalMart GP who put the balance of the bike I couldn't afford on her personal debit card we got Lola her bike!

Now I'm settled back in GP with Bulldog, life as normal per say, but it doesn't feel right.

Anyways in closing, if I were ever heaven forbid to find myself in the predicament that residents of Fort McMurray are in I would pray that someone out there would do the things I've done for me. As a human being the least I can do is be willing to do what I would hope others would do for me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat and would drive to Fort Mac tomorrow if they'd let me in. Last but not least stay #albertastrong

Justin's Photo Album on Google+


I hope you enjoyed Justin's story and his photo album.

Until next time,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

My Time in Fort Mac - Part 6 - Nicoll from Leduc City Fire Saves the Day!

Jim from Leduc Fire gifted me a stuffed
Dalmatian Firehouse Dog "Lucky"

In the last instalment of My Time in Fort Mac, I left off with having had my stuffed Dalmatian firehouse dog, "Lucky", gifted to me by Jim of the Leduc Fire Department, absconded with.

I have no idea where he went, who took him, or if they felt they needed him more than I, all I knew was he was gone and Brittany and Becca hadn't seen anything.

Now I am not one to normally cry.

Get mad yes - tell some one where to go and how to get there - sadly, I still do that sometimes...

But for me to actually cry, well it means I have been either been wounded to the core or moved beyond words.

Jim's gesture and that of his fire crew meant a lot to me.

This was the second time I had something taken from me while on Mac Island and I felt pretty violated. (The first time involved a homeless man taking smokes out of my duffle bag and me catching him.)

Late on Sunday afternoon, Keltie-May Nicoll from Leduc Fire and I were talking and I told her that someone had taken "Lucky", about 40 minutes later she sought me out with a replacement.   She had me in tears.
We hugged and I thanked her from the bottom of my heart.  Nicole took a whole lot of sting out of the day - she literally saved the day!

There were some little red bags that could be used as backpacks kicking around and so I grabbed one, put "Lucky" in to and never let him out of my reach for the rest of my time in Fort Mac...

This had been a very discouraging Mother's Day. It had started out well, but from the time I discovered "Lucky" was missing to the time I walked out of Fort Mac at 10 pm that night, it was pretty much a "shit day".

You see, I was interviewed by an RCMP officer regarding two young men who had taken items out of the Marks Work Warhorse  and Canadian Tire stores on I think it was Thursday and Friday. These young men tried to tell the police that they got their orders from me.  As I explained to the Officer, I didn't ask them to get me anything. The only man who got supplies for me was a man named Mitch who was accompanied by the Assistant Manager of the Sobey's & Safeway stores on many a trip and  he would come to me and ask if I needed anything.

A little while later, this same officer comes back to get a recorded statement.

And a little while later another interview over these same young guys, this time with both a male and female RCMP officer. Again it was a recorded interview.

By this third interview I was pretty upset.

These two young guys had a little pick up with a small trailer they were towing behind and they had been working their butts off. They had hauled fire extinguishers, cases of bottled water, they had rescued animals and just seemed to be helping all over the place.  We never really got to know each other as they'd come in to our area, drop off whatever was meant for our station, then doodle off to drop other items off.

I am not sure what business they went into the first time, or with whom but they told me they had gone with a police officer and a firefighter had gone and gotten gloves, flashlights, safety glasses and other items that apparently the fire teams were looking for on Thursday night.  The next morning they had gotten coveralls, tee shirts, vests, socks...and dumped them on the sidewalk infant of my station which I was not very happy about and so they went about the task of sorting them and making sense of things instead of this huge heap of stuff.

Well apparently these two young guys had just decided on their own to go and get these things.
When the RCMP arrested them, they tried to blame myself and another person for ordering them to go get these items.

I was pissed for a number of reasons.  Number one, while I may have a "let's git er done attitude", I would NEVER ORDER anyone to go take supplies unless I had permission from an owner or someone in charge at the command centre.  I was here to feed people, to purchase the supplies like tobacco, moleskin, foot powder and air masks that could not be had in town at that time and to coordinate donated food and personal stuff - period.

Thursday night about 2 am before more supplies came in.

In fact, I had several people call me, give me their addresses, tell me about their freezers filled with meats etc and give me the codes to get into their houses and permission to do so.  I never acted on those offers.

I was upset at tax payers money being wasted on this entire ordeal. Three times of being interviewed over the exact same incident was getting old.

These young folks weren't taking items for themselves - they were doing their best to help out. The stuff they did take went straight to first responders who truly needed these things.

Clothes neatly folded and piles for
fire crews to grab what they needed

We, at that time, were in a state of emergency.

Theses two young fellas were not looting for personal gain. They didn't take TV's or anything like that, they took things sox and safety glasses and flash lights, vests and coveralls.

I feel bad for these kids, but I was pissed too that they tried to blame me for directing them when I hadn't.  None the less, these kids were, I believe, very sincere in their desire to help.

I get that the RCMP had to do their job, the incidences had to be reported for insurance etc., but I felt that three times was over the top.

It's one of those double edged swords, none of these officers were anything but polite and apologetic, telling me each time that they had been tasked with doing these interviews.

I get it, but I didn't like it much.

Kimmy & Tony's Trailer

Kimmy and Tony, some friends of mine from Provost, had brought up a trailer earlier in the day and we got it all set up. They had the fridge stocked, sleeping bags and pillows and supplies for the first responders - OH and they had brought some movies!

Well - the plan was, we gals would have a girls night. There were four beds, and Lynda and I would leave in the morning as Lynda was on her way down with my car to pick me up.  I needed to be in Two Hills for Tuesday Night as this wonderful small town north of Fort Saskatchewan had just won our inaugural "Canada's MOST Rider Friendly Community Contest", and I had meeting with the community leaders and a presentation of a trophy and some road signs to make.

Well wouldn't you know it, my request to have Lynda drive in for the night to take me home in the morning was turned down.  As was the request for the Tim Horton's van and some masseuses who were willing to come up and provide some therapeutic massages to firefighters for free.

It appears that the reason for so many things being turned down and so many things about the Mac Island staging area changing in "feel" was due to Task Force 2 moving in, in advance of the Premier's visit.

I was tired, I was feeling pretty abused and all I wanted was a good night's sleep.

But that wasn't to happen.

I asked the guys at AEMA how I was going to get out to the highway to meet Lynda, my ride out and was told that there was nothing they could do to help me.

Feeling defeated, I headed back to the Suncor Centre and the gymnasium that was the gathering place for those eating from the BBQ and ran into a friendly face. Holly from Mobster Towing.

I explained my predicament and she agreed to give me a ride to the Anzac check stop but that is as far as she was allowed to go and we had to go now cause she was on her break. I had left my cooler and Lynda's big blanket and sleeping bag behind with Brittany and Becca, I folded up the other blankets and put them in a box for someone else to use.

 I said good bye to girls and grabbed my two duffle bags and walked out to Holly's tow truck.

It was about 10 PM when I got to Anzac and it was 11 pm before Lynda made it to me.
In the meantime I sat in a car with some young people who were waiting to get in to rescue animals.
I was thankful because it was some cold out.

When Lynda arrived, I hopped in the driver's seat and we drove as far as Wandering River and I climbed in the backseat and had about a four hour snooze and then headed home, Lynda was curled up in the passenger seat with the seat warmer on.

While I was driving to Wandering River, I got a text. It was from Brittany telling me that I could get a ride out in the morning but that was all AEMA could offer me.  I thanked them but explained that "I had already left, remember, I had said goodbye?" From then on I had zero communications with Brittany & Becca, which concerned me but I stayed in communication with Jeremy daily so I could help coordinate supplies.  I never thought to ask Jeremy who was now using Kimmy and Tony's trailer if he had picked up my cooler and Lynda's king sized blanket and sleeping bag.  I guess I should have because now these three items are also gone.  Oh well, it's just stuff and obviously someone needed it more than we did.

The whole drive home I had this plan formulating in my head to help first responders in the future.
I drove Lynda crazy talking it out I am sure.

Up by Sucker creek First Nations, an enormous mountain cat went bounding across the road.
Both Lynda and I were awestruck at his size. He was obviously fleeing the fires, and it was only two big leaps and he was across the highway and one leap and he was in the bush.  He was magnificent.

I was so happy to get home mid-day on Monday, May 9th. I lent Lynda my car for the afternoon so she could get some things done as her truck was in being fixed. My hubby had to go to work at 2:30 pm and so I ended up having a long soak in the tub and then hit the hay, sleeping for about 12 hours straight through.

I was happy to sit at my desk on Tuesday morning, May 10th making out paycheques for my contractors with my two guardians looking over me...

Sarge and Lucky....My two buddies - my reminders of some very special people in my life and some very special friendships.

Thank you Keltie-May Nicoll from Leduc City Fire Department for saving the day, that one small act of kindness got me through a really, really crappy day!



Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider