Fort McMurray firefighters share key moments in fight for city
Andrea Huncar | CBC News | Posted: June 7, 2016 3:03 PM | Last Updated: June 8, 2016
'Even though we did everything, we really wish we could have always done more'
The fight to save Fort McMurray raged on for days, but when it was over firefighters managed to save 90 per cent of the city.
"We all stood shoulder to shoulder," said fire captain Ryan Pitchers, listing all those involved including other fire departments and RCMP. "And we were able to do what we were able to do and accomplish, which seemed insurmountable at the time."
With residents returning home, three firefighters from the Fort McMurray fire department share some key moments in the fight for their city which made the homecoming possible.
Battle of JW Mann Drive
'We decided that...we were going to make a stand and try to do what we can to save the neighbourhood.' - Ryan Pitchers
Day 1. Over the radio, fire captain Ryan Pitchers' crew, along with two others from the Fort McMurray fire department, were told to evacuate JW Mann Drive in the Wood Buffalo neighbourhood. Some homes were already lit up. Wind and flames blew into their faces. Then suddenly, it just stopped. That was the moment Pitchers made the decision: they would stay.
Battle of Thickwood
We 'were running around with our boots stomping out grass fires'- Mark Stephenson
Despite the loss of his own home on the first day, senior firefighter Mark Stephenson pressed on. On day two, Stephenson was among the firefighters who came face to face with "the beast," an all-day fight to stop the fire from roaring into the Thickwood neighbourhood.
Battle of Walnut Crescent
'You're sad for all the losses ... And even though we did everything, we really wish we could have always done more.' - Suzanne Barry
On the second night of the fire, firefighter EMT Suzanne Barry was on one of four Fort McMurray crews involved in an eight-hour battle to prevent the fire from advancing into the Timberlea neighbourhood.