KAMLOOPS — A family who fled the flames in Fort McMurray this week is no stranger to disaster.
Don and Loretta Gammel’s evacuation from the community they call home is bringing back painful memories of a destructive fire that destroyed homes and businesses in Barriere in 2003.
The Gammel’s home wasn’t lost, however, Don’s workplace was.
“We didn’t have no idea what was happening with our place or anything there either,” Don Gammel recalled.
“We panicked,” Loretta Gammel added. “We just … got out of there. I didn’t even worry about the rest of my family that lived there, I was just worried about him and me getting out.”
This time they had more to think about. Their son, Duane Gammel, his wife Brandi and two kids also live in Fort McMurray and had to make the stressful drive out of the city on Tuesday.
Duane compares the evacuation to a scene from a television show.
“The first couple of scenes of The Walking Dead how peoples’ cars were all over the road – that’s what it looked like,” he said. “It was that type of scenario of just driving … and these vehicles were just everywhere and it was just jam-packed bumper to bumper.”
The whole family made it out together, along with their dog, two cats and a plan to come to Kamloops, which is more than some people had.
“There was a family – a mom and dad and two kids walking down the highway, just walking, no car, no suitcases,” Brandi Gammel said.
“I said to Duane, ‘oh my god, what are they going to do?’ How can you watch behind you these flames coming down the hill and you’re walking with your two kids?”
The Gammels believe their homes and workplaces have been spared from the flames, but with fires still threatening the community they’re aware that anything could happen.
“It’s a waiting game,” Loretta Gammel said. “But we heard that we’re allowed, in about three weeks, allowed to go back in, but that’s just to get stuff to bring out if our house is still standing.”
For now, the family is coping the best they can, thankful to be together and safe.
