A8

TORONTO STAR

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011

ON ON0

CANADA

Fire victims face an uncertain trip home

AMY DEMPSEY REPORTS FROM ALBERTA

With tired eyes and sunburned cheeks, 2-year-old Jolie looked at her mom and uttered five heartbreaking words. I want to go home. The toddler has been living out of a camper trailer with her parents, grandparents, three siblings, an aunt and two cousins since wildfires tore through Slave Lake Sunday evening. Its been a long week for Jolie and the crew of 11, who have been waiting to hear if their houses were among those destroyed or gutted by fire. The news was bittersweet when the town of Slave Lake released detailed maps of the area on Thursday, showing which homes were destroyed, damaged or spared. Jolies grandparents, Rick and Vi Osadchuk, got word late in the afternoon that their home is still standing. The pair whooped when they saw a photograph of their untouched house, which they share with their daughter Tanya Osadchuk and her two children. Grinning, the couple joked about celebrating with Baileys-spiked coffees and a night alone together in a tent pitched outside the camper. Rick kissed his wife on the forehead and chuckled. But then, unexpected bad news. Melanie Osadchuk their daughter and Jolies mom had spent the past few days feeling confident that she had a home to return to after seeing YouTube videos and hearing

AMY DEMPSEY/TORONTO STAR

The Osadchuk family of 11 have been living in a camper trailer lent to them by a stranger after they were chased from their homes by wildfires.

a report from a neighbour. But when she looked at the map, her home was among those listed as damaged. It shows that my place is damaged and everyone around me is fine, she said. Is it there? I dont know. Im really upset. The Slave Lake damage report maps show 374 lots were destroyed by the wildfires that swept through the area. Another 52 were damaged. In the nearby Municipal District of Lesser Slave River, where Melanie and Jolie live, 59 lots were destroyed and 32 were damaged. Officials say it will be weeks before people are allowed to move back to the undamaged homes. Melanie

may have to wait until then to find out if her house is still standing. As they grapple with the bittersweet news, memories of the evacuation still haunt the family. Vi Osadchuk was sitting at home on Sunday, wondering if and when they should start packing when her eldest granddaughter, 15-year-old Ripley, came running home from a neighbours house with some frightening news. The police station is on fire. They grabbed blankets and pillows and left immediately. Meanwhile, Melanie, 34, had gone to Wal-Mart with her husband, Jolie and the rest of the kids. As the family stood outside watch-

ing the smoke that had been looming in the distance all day, it became thicker and darker and started moving toward them fast. Just like that, Melanie says, her voice shaking. It happened just like that. I was thinking where do we take the kids if that smoke comes our way? Her hand trembles as she wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. They would die. Like many Slave Lakers who have found temporary homes in Athabasca, the Osadchuks have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local people. When they arrived on Sunday, a man saw Vi and Ricks daughter Ta-

nya holding her 14-month-old daughter and offered up his home for the family to spend the night in. On a visit to a local campground the next day, a complete stranger insisted on loaning them his camper trailer. It has been their home ever since. It restores your faith, says Vi. The 57-year-old grandma is a breast cancer survivor. She sees the world differently since her recovery. No matter what happens, the family will be okay. This is what matters, she said, waving around the camper trailer at her daughters and grandchildren. You move on. However it has to be.

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