Newfoundland-born Fort McMurray evacuee moved by the kindness of strangers

A Newfoundland-born woman who evacuated Fort McMurray on Wednesday says she's overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.

Marie Kelly, a Port aux Choix native, arrived in Fort Saskatchewan, A.B., Wednesday night after hours on the road.

Being taken in by strangers, and having one woman buy her clothes and food, she says the reception she's received in the community has been unbelievable.

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"The people out here are awesome," she said. "They are so good to us."

Kelly says shortly after arriving in the community, she was offered space in one stranger's camper and was brought to see a doctor — who covered the cost of some necessary prescription drugs.

They are so good to us- Marie Kelly

She arrived with just what was in her handbag, so Kelly soon went shopping for some new clothes.

That's when she met another Newfoundland woman, who dug deep to buy $200-worth of clothing for her and her family.

"She gave us her money and everything. The people are so good out here to us," Kelly said while beating back tears.

Restless night

Kelly first moved to Fort McMurray in 2009, and works at the Suncor mine north of the city.

That's near the area where she found herself late Tuesday night, when she fled the city and camped in an area locals call "the bridge to nowhere."

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Alongside her sister's family, Kelly parked a truck near a river — thinking that gave them the best protection against the flames billowing nearby.

She had even prepared to put her nieces and nephews out in a boat, if necessary.

"It was very hard, everybody was just so scared," she said

"Even though we were so far north, we could smell the smoke and you could see all the flames in the sky."

Early-morning escape

At 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, Kelly and her sister decided to take the family and run, driving southbound out of Fort McMurray

After a restless night, she was confronted by the fire as she drove through town.

"We were driving through flames, fire dropping down on us," she said. "I didn't think we would make it out alive."

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Once outside of Fort McMurray, Kelly says she noticed the offers to help coming right away.

"There was people out on the side of the road every town we drove through. They had signs made, welcome evacuees. Free food, free water, everything like that."

Left to wonder

Kelly has been in touch with her supervisors at Suncor, but still wonders about the future of her home in Fort McMurray.

I don't know if we got anything left.- Marie Kelly

She lives in the city's downtown area, which has so far been spared of much of the damage.

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She says she finds it hard to watch the news, and wonders what will be left of her life when evacuees are allowed to return.

"I don't know if we got anything left, or anything to go back to. I don't know."