As wildfires ravaged northern Alberta help for victims quickly began to pour in from RV trade associations, RV dealers and campgrounds all across Canada.
Thousands of Fort McMurray evacuees have been accommodated at campgrounds and RV parks around Edmonton in the aftermath of the massive blaze, which is already being described as the most costly natural disaster in Canada’s history. Other displaced families have been permitted to set up their motorhomes and trailers in parking lots and other appropriate areas in and around the city.
The first trade group to respond to the crisis was appropriately the RVDA of Alberta. “We don’t have any dealerships up in Fort McMurray, but we have a lot of customers who go up and set up there,” said Dan Merkowsy, executive vice president. “All those people will be looking for somewhere to get out of Dodge.”
RV dealers are opening up storage lots for fleeing RVers. “There are no hookups, but at least it’s a place for them to be,” Merkowsy said.
The RVDA of Alberta’s board donated $5,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and urged dealers to do the same, especially since the federal government pledged to match private donations. The Ontario RVDA, the RVDA of BC, the RVDA of Canada and the Canadian Camping and RV Council (CCRVC) also made $5,000 donations.
Tremendous support has also been provided by individual dealerships. Woody’s RV World, with five Alberta locations, generously donated $10,000 in support of wildfire victims while Western RV Country, with 12 locations, donated a grand total of $25,890 to help fire victims. BC-based Traveland RV generously donated $5,000.
Further cash donations by St. Albert Honda & RV City, the Parks and Campgrounds Owners’ Association of Alberta and many others were matched by donations of clothing, housewares, food, water, and priority repairs to damaged RVs people were living in.
Three weeks after they began, there were still 15 wildfires burning in northern Alberta, including three classed as burning out of control. More than 1,900 firefighters with 161 helicopters, 29 water bombers and 377 pieces of heavy equipment continued battling the blazes at our press time.
