Received the following early this morning from Tim who has guest blogged here at Brutally Honest in the past:
I wonder if you might post this news item on your blog and ask for prayers? The town of Slave Lake is only 250 kms north of Edmonton and many people in this city have family and friends there. I myself led a couple of workshops at the ecumenical church there back in the 1990s. It seems that hundreds of buildings have been burned down and there is no sign yet that the fire is anywhere close to being under control.
Details from the Globe and Mail:
Flames continued to flicker into the night time skies above Slave Lake after a devastating, fast moving wildfire caught community officials off guard.
The damage is catastrophic. Hundreds of homes, churches and businesses in the northern Alberta town have been destroyed. So too has the town hall and radio station. The power’s out, cell phone service has been spotty, and 7,000 residents have been forced to flee through a single road, the only highway open as fires rage on all sides.
As dusk fell Sunday, fires continued to burn within the city and around it. Fire crews had little control – they’d managed to save the south part of the town, but remained at the mercy of strong winds, gusting up to 100 km/h.
“It’s extremely devastating, our loss. It’s difficult to articulate,” Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said late Sunday, adding: “A lot of things we’re battling now.”
Prayers from south of the border Tim...
Sending prayers and wishing I could send some of the water we've got around here!
Posted by: BroKen | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 09:01 AM
“Hundreds of homes, churches and businesses in the northern Alberta town have been destroyed.”
Hundreds!?! And the first and only place I’ve heard about this is here!?!? (No offense Rick). WTF!!! Our northern neighbor has a town burning down and…silence by our media? Yup, couldn’t manage to fit it in between those 'botox for an eight year old' and 'Osama’s porn stash' stories.
Good luck Slave Lake.
Posted by: tim aka The Godless Heathen | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Joined in concern and prayer.
Posted by: chuck aka xtnyoda | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Thanks very much BH readers - I am going to try to keep updating my site through the day although at the moment the CBCseems to have the most recent updates. Should any of you wish to help out in a tangible way the Alberta Red Cross is accepting donations for displaced fire victims at 1-800-418-1111. I hope it's OK to post this number here Rick.
Posted by: Tim Chesterton | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Absolutely...
Posted by: Rick | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:11 PM
I am with you Tim, this is the first I have heard of it. Prayers for the people and someone needs to rattle the cages of American media IMO.
(If that is possible anymore)
Posted by: Locutisprime | Monday, May 16, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, all. I have added an update on the situation on my blog here.
Posted by: Tim Chesterton | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12:22 AM
For a good part of Sunday the people of Slave Lake were trapped as all the highways out were blocked with fire. Everyone had to head to parking lots and the lake's beach to avoid the town fires. But, so far, praise God, not one death. Even with an entire hospital evacuation.
Posted by: Leslie | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Indeed, Leslie - not even an injury, as far as we know. Given the seriousness of the situation, truly amazing.
Posted by: Tim Chesterton | Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 03:34 AM
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photos/wildfire-engulfs-slave-lake-alberta-1305547879-slideshow/#crsl=
Yahoo news slide show today about the fire.
Posted by: chuck aka xtnyoda | Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 04:07 PM
I've added an article on my blog from the perspective of the pastor of St. Peter's Church in Slave Lake. It's here .
Posted by: Tim Chesterton | Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 06:46 PM