Monday, May 16, 2011

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE TOWN OF SLAVE LAKE, ALBERTA


From Tim Chesterton:
Dear Christian Blogging Friends:

I wonder if you might post this news item on your blog and ask for prayers? The town of Slave Lake is only 250 kms north of Edmonton and many people in this city have family and friends there. I myself led a couple of workshops at the ecumenical church there back in the 1990s. It seems that hundreds of buildings have been burned down and there is no sign yet that the fire is anywhere close to being under control.
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.

More information at the Edmonton Journal and the Globe and Mail.

Thank you for your prayers.

Tim

UPDATE FROM TIM:
If you feel right about doing so, you might want to add that the toll-free number for the Alberta Red Cross is 1-800-418-1111.

Of course, I feel right about it.

6 comments:

  1. Prayers offered, Tim, for all endangered, injured, or suffering loss. And for all who fight the fires.

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  2. I echo Paul's response. Prayers from this part of West Michigan, too.

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  3. So many prayers - how horrifying!

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  4. Prayers!

    Um, I'm not saying this is a karma thing (really, I'm not) . . . but has the name "Slave Lake" ever been contemplated changing? [e.g., "Freedmans Lake" or "Liberty Lake" or something?]

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  5. I think both Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories and Lesser Slave Lake (the lake on which the town of Slave Lake is situated) were named by early explorers because they were in the territory of the Slavey Indians (also named by early explorers!!!).

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  6. I have added an update on the situation on my blog here.

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