Photo Courtesy Salvation Army social media

By Tanner Smith

Wildfires

Grande Prairie Salvation Army supporting wildfire frontline workers & evacuees

Jul 25, 2024 | 2:07 PM

As wildfires burn in both northwestern Alberta and Jasper National Park, the Grande Prairie Salvation Army is providing support to frontline workers and evacuees.

“We have two teams out, one in Hinton taking care of those frontline workers at the Jasper fire, and up here in High Level we have teams set up for when we initially got here, for 600 evacuees who were being evacuated from the north,” said Captain Peter Kim.

He says at both sites, the Salvation Army is offering a wide range of supports.

“What we’re providing here is not just the food but the emotional and spiritual care for those who are distraught, and those who are needing a little extra ‘TLC’ in the time of a very difficult situation, and that’s why we do what we do, is to take care of people.”

Kim added that they also try and spread positivity, making efforts to put “a smile on their faces.”

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At this time, the Salvation Army is accepting donations which will go towards supporting those most affected by and fighting these wildfires.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so by visiting the Salvation Army website. An option to donate to a specific disaster will also be available.

“As we take our vehicles out, they need to be replenished with supplies to make sure that we do feed the people who are in need, so monetary donations is always the best. That way we can pick and choose exactly what we need to help the families in need, whether it’s emergency supplies, food or just our vehicles being able to get there,” said Captain Kim.

At this time, Premier Danielle Smith said we are “potentially seeing 30 to 50 per cent structural damage” in Jasper, while evacuation orders remain in effect for John D’Or, Fox Lake and Garden River in the Little Red River Cree Nation.