How Emergency Disaster Services Responded to the Yellowknife Wildfires
It’s been a difficult summer here in Alberta and the Northwest Territories thanks to the numerous wildfires that have ravaged the areas since May. Many residents have lived in a smokey haze of uncertainty with bags packed and on the ready as possible evacuation orders loomed in the air.
However, if there was one constant, it’s that where there was smoke this summer, The Salvation Army was there to help.
When the fire came within 15 km of the city of Yellowknife, officials issued the evacuation order on Aug. 16. Twenty-five thousand residents and 68% of the entire territory fled south to find safety, and The Salvation Army sprang into action. First, evacuating the most vulnerable residents under its care to Calgary, and then by sending the Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams into Yellowknife to provide meals and support for the growing number of first responders.
Once EDS arrived in the staging area, they set up camp with their mobile canteen units and began making homecooked meals for first responders.
When it was all said and done, EDS served 25,539 meals, 18,013 snacks, and 21,029 drinks to first responders and evacuees. EDS staff worked a combined 7,019 hours and handed out 2,333 household items and 2,560 pounds of clothing.
Taking care of Yellowknife evacuees
In response to the Yellowknife Salvation Army’s need to find shelter for its most vulnerable residents, the Calgary Centre of Hope answered the call and quickly assembled a plan for accommodating the evacuees.
Approximately 100 people (and one dog) arrived in Calgary on Aug. 17, where they were safe and comfortable. Seventeen of the Yellowknife Salvation Army’s most vulnerable residents and five case workers stayed at the Calgary Centre of Hope, where they received three meals a day in the dining hall, a games room for playing pool and watching television, and free wifi.
At the same time, The Salvation Army set up another 72 homeless clients in Calgary hotels. Case workers worked in shifts to ensure someone was always available to meet their needs and provide 24-hour care.
“While they were down there, our staff managed to reach out to just about every one of (the homeless clients) who weren’t staying with us at some point or another,” said Major Tony Brushett, the Yellowknife Salvation Army’s Executive Director & Associate Corps Officer.
“The clients themselves came and went from the Centre of Hope and explored the City of Calgary,” said Cliff Wiebe, Executive Director of Community Services in Calgary. “The Centre of Hope is right downtown and close to all kinds of amazing sites to see. I met some clients who showed me their tickets to go to the top of the Calgary Tower.”
Meanwhile, EDS prepared and served meals to other evacuees at three hotels in St. Albert, northwest of Edmonton. As people made their way home, EDS eventually reduced the operation to one hotel location, and EDS served meals until Sept. 16.
EDS heads up to Yellowknife
While evacuees were settling in Calgary, The Salvation Army’s EDS teams were in Edmonton gathering supplies and preparing to make the 14-hour drive to Yellowknife in its Community Response Unit (a mobile kitchen).
After making a quick stop to drop off 200 blankets for evacuees in Grand Prairie, EDS arrived in Yellowknife and immediately began setting up to feed all the first responders three meals a day in different locations. The meals included many delicious dishes, such as chicken cordon bleu, spaghetti and meatballs, soups, and vegetarian options as well.
It was all hands-on deck as EDS teams from across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba travelled up north to volunteer their time as well.
EDS served thousands of meals to hundreds of first responders and essential service workers, keeping the fire at bay, keeping the lights on so residents could be welcomed back safely.
Yellowknife lifts the evacuation order
The city of Yellowknife lifted the evacuation order on Sept. 8, and Salvation Army flew the clients staying in Calgary back home.
EDS crews stayed in Yellowknife an additional eight days until Sept. 16, nearly a month after arriving on the scene, to ensure the transition back into the city for Salvation Army staff and residents went as smoothly as possible.
The crews continued serving meals, and staff from Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon also worked as shelter attendants to assist in getting the Yellowknife shelter up and running again.
Once Yellowknife staff started returning to the city, EDS members transferred to a Health and Social Services day and night shelter.
“We had to augment their staff so they could open. They didn’t have the staff because they were scattered far and wide…so they reached out to the Army,” Major Ben Lippers, The Alberta and Northern Territories Divisional Director of Emergency Disaster Services said.
Evacuees return home
In anticipation of the city of Yellowknife lifting the evacuation order, The Salvation Army began preparing to help evacuees return home.
EDS and volunteers created 500 hygiene kits for evacuees returning home. The kits included toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, and more.
In Yellowknife, many clients were relieved to be home and get back to their day-to-day lives after spending three weeks in a major city.
“They want to get back to what their normal is,” Major Brushett said. “I remember when we picked them up from the airport, I was driving one of the program vans, and I had seven guys with me, and these are chronically homeless men, and the comments in the back were, ‘Oh, I’m so happy to be home.’”
“For the most part, they have settled in very, very well,” he added.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team is back at home base and ready for when the next disaster strikes. Please consider donating to help fellow Canadians affected by the wildfires at SalvationArmy.ca/Wildfires.