Written by Alicia Draus, Communications Manager, Canadian Red Cross
I had just signed off on a Friday night when I received a text from my manager. “Fire in Labrador. Are you able to go?”
“Absolutely!” I replied. Having only recently joined the Canadian Red Cross, I was keen to get a deployment under my belt. The challenge of course is that communities in Labrador are quite remote, so getting there isn’t always easy.
It took a few days to arrange travel but by Tuesday, myself and over half a dozen other Red Cross personnel from Atlantic Canada and beyond boarded a plane from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
On July 12, 2024, a wildfire near Labrador City forced the evacuation of about 9,000 people from Labrador West, many headed to Happy Valley-Goose Bay where the Canadian Red Cross was assisting with registration, shelters, emergency supplies, mental health support, and so much more.
When I first arrived, it was still early in the evacuation so understandably there were a lot of moving pieces, but evacuees were just happy to see so many people there to help them.
“Ever since we’ve been here, there’s been nothing but help, everyone is always asking if we need help,” one woman told me. “It’s been amazing. Everyone from Labrador City appreciates everything that’s been done for everyone.”
Another family I spoke to spent their first few nights at a congregate shelter in the arena. When a site opened at Muskrat Falls a few days later, offering private rooms, they were among the first to arrive. They were quickly set up in two rooms, one for the parents with an adjoining room with bunk beds for the kids.
“I really appreciate the Red Cross community, they are helping a lot,” the father told me after checking in at the new site. As a volunteer guided them to their new room, the young son looked around excitedly, and with a big smile declared, “it’s cool.”
Thousands of people were forced out of their homes and they didn’t know how long they’d have to be away for, and still every time I spoke with them they remained positive, upbeat, and thankful for the support they received.
I felt a special kinship with one teen girl in particular who smiled shyly as her mom told me about how as they rushed to evacuate Labrador City, she told her daughter to pack only the essentials. As the parents went to lift the suitcase into the car, they wondered why it was so heavy.
Turns out she filled her suitcase with books, packing only one set of clothes. I laughed with the family, but I get it. After accepting the deployment, I had turned to my husband and said, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, how many books should I bring?” It didn’t matter in the end. I didn’t even have a chance to open one.
What made me especially proud was getting to know all the incredible people who volunteer with the Red Cross. So many people from all walks of life are ready to put their life on hold at the drop of a hat, to travel to communities across the country and help people they’ve never met before. I was so impressed by their dedication and selflessness.
It wasn’t just the Red Cross who came to support in a time of need; it was a real team effort with so many organizations on the ground in Labrador working together.
While the Canadian Red Cross was running shelter sites, St. John Ambulance was there for first aid. Numerous organizations and facilities offered their buildings for shelter sites, and the Salvation Army was there to ensure evacuees and volunteers had something to eat.
It wasn’t always easy. There were long days, shared sleeping accommodations, and lots of running around from site to site. Cell service and internet weren’t always reliable, but I got to meet so many incredible people, from the volunteers to the evacuees who, despite everything they had gone through, remained positive and were happy to share their stories with me. So, while we were there to help them, they were always leaving me with a smile.
I had just signed off on a Friday night when I received a text from my manager. “Fire in Labrador. Are you able to go?”
“Absolutely!” I replied. Having only recently joined the Canadian Red Cross, I was keen to get a deployment under my belt. The challenge of course is that communities in Labrador are quite remote, so getting there isn’t always easy.
It took a few days to arrange travel but by Tuesday, myself and over half a dozen other Red Cross personnel from Atlantic Canada and beyond boarded a plane from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Labrador City and Wabush Residents Evacuate due to Wildfire
On July 12, 2024, a wildfire near Labrador City forced the evacuation of about 9,000 people from Labrador West, many headed to Happy Valley-Goose Bay where the Canadian Red Cross was assisting with registration, shelters, emergency supplies, mental health support, and so much more.
When I first arrived, it was still early in the evacuation so understandably there were a lot of moving pieces, but evacuees were just happy to see so many people there to help them.
“Ever since we’ve been here, there’s been nothing but help, everyone is always asking if we need help,” one woman told me. “It’s been amazing. Everyone from Labrador City appreciates everything that’s been done for everyone.”
Stories of Resilience and Community Support from Labrador Wildfire Evacuees
Another family I spoke to spent their first few nights at a congregate shelter in the arena. When a site opened at Muskrat Falls a few days later, offering private rooms, they were among the first to arrive. They were quickly set up in two rooms, one for the parents with an adjoining room with bunk beds for the kids.
“I really appreciate the Red Cross community, they are helping a lot,” the father told me after checking in at the new site. As a volunteer guided them to their new room, the young son looked around excitedly, and with a big smile declared, “it’s cool.”
Thousands of people were forced out of their homes and they didn’t know how long they’d have to be away for, and still every time I spoke with them they remained positive, upbeat, and thankful for the support they received.
I felt a special kinship with one teen girl in particular who smiled shyly as her mom told me about how as they rushed to evacuate Labrador City, she told her daughter to pack only the essentials. As the parents went to lift the suitcase into the car, they wondered why it was so heavy.
Turns out she filled her suitcase with books, packing only one set of clothes. I laughed with the family, but I get it. After accepting the deployment, I had turned to my husband and said, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, how many books should I bring?” It didn’t matter in the end. I didn’t even have a chance to open one.
Community Support and Collaboration in Labrador Wildfire Evacuation
What made me especially proud was getting to know all the incredible people who volunteer with the Red Cross. So many people from all walks of life are ready to put their life on hold at the drop of a hat, to travel to communities across the country and help people they’ve never met before. I was so impressed by their dedication and selflessness.
It wasn’t just the Red Cross who came to support in a time of need; it was a real team effort with so many organizations on the ground in Labrador working together.
While the Canadian Red Cross was running shelter sites, St. John Ambulance was there for first aid. Numerous organizations and facilities offered their buildings for shelter sites, and the Salvation Army was there to ensure evacuees and volunteers had something to eat.
It wasn’t always easy. There were long days, shared sleeping accommodations, and lots of running around from site to site. Cell service and internet weren’t always reliable, but I got to meet so many incredible people, from the volunteers to the evacuees who, despite everything they had gone through, remained positive and were happy to share their stories with me. So, while we were there to help them, they were always leaving me with a smile.
