Nobody knows pain and suffering like the people who have walked a mile or more in the same shoes.
That's why the people of Fort McMurray and Slave Lake, two Alberta communities all too familiar with being evacuated from their communities due to wildfires were quick to respond on behalf of the Cariboo residents fleeing the forest fires across Central B.C.
We won't know the true cost of the Cariboo wildfires in terms of homes damaged and destroyed for some time yet but it will likely be a fraction of what the residents of these two Alberta towns endured.
The Fort McMurray fire burned for two months last year before it was brought under control, consuming 5,900 square kilometres of forest and about 2,400 homes and buildings. The 2011 Slave Lake wildfire destroyed more than one-third of the community of 7,000.
In both cases, a huge outpouring of support from Canadians helped the residents of these communities get through the crisis.
As valuable as the donations were to help Slave Lake and Fort McMurray get back on their feet, knowing people from coast to coast cared and wanted to help was gratifying.
The donations brought to Prince George were small but the thoughtful consideration extended to this area was enormous.
Both evacuees and Prince George residents thank them from the bottom of their hearts.
-- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
