Back in the late 90′s I led a couple of workshops at St. Peter’s Ecumenical Church in Slave Lake, about 250 kms north of Edmonton, so it was with particular horror that I got home from the Expressionz Open Stage tonight to discover on the news that a forest fire has gotten loose in the town and burned down hundreds of buildings.
After a day of caution over two encroaching wildfires, the winds picked up and brought chaos and destruction to Slave Lake.
Wind gusts that accelerated the advance of fires and grounded water bombers Sunday afternoon allowed the fire to jump two highways. Afterwards, it was free to tear through the Alberta town of 7,000 people. A long list of hundreds of buildings have burned down – including city hall, the police station, the radio station and countless houses – and the town has brought in a mandatory evacuation. The fires appear out of control.
Read the rest here at the Globe and Mail website. Please pray for the people of Slave Lake. Pray for all who are fighting the fires and above all, pray for a change in the weather.
UPDATES: here’s a fuller account in the Edmonton Journal. CBC News has a more recent update, including video.
The Alberta Red Cross is accepting donations for displaced victims. Call 1-800-418-1111.
FURTHER UPDATES AT 12.40 P.M.
The Red Cross is busy. The City of Edmonton is also helping out.
Tim – good to hear of you, but under awful circumstances. Do you know the fate of St Peter’s Church? It has been an icon for me of ecumenical shared ministry and I pray for all involved in it – not just their church, but their homes and livelihoods. Writing, strangely, from a peaceful monastery in norther Italy, where the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission is meeting. Prayers abound for you all. Alyson
Alyson – according to the Anglican Journal the church building survived, but five parishioners lost their homes.
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/news-update-items/article/this-isnt-normal-theres-too-much-smoke-9777.html
I have often thought of you too, in all the international goings-on, covenant etc., and prayed for wisdom and grace, which I know the Lord has given!!!
T.