Pinay Shares Fort McMurray Wildfire Experience

https://youtu.be/OwpwJR7_Xf4

REDWOOD CITY, California – A Filipina and her family were among the tens of thousands of families who were forced to evacuate their home because of the Fort McMurray wildfire in Canada.

Princess Jhameel Pineda’s family is now in a shelter in Fort McKay in Northern Alberta. They were evacuated Tuesday just as the wildfire came close to their home.

“Pagkagaling sa school, nakikita ko na po yung apoy sa subdivision namin, sa likod ng bahay namin. Naghanap na po ako ng ride papunta sa amin. Pagdating ko doon naka ready na lahat ng gamit then nag-start na po kaming umalis. By 2 p.m. malakas na yung apoy,” she recalled.

At that time, she said she was concerned about her brother who was still in school as well as saving their important documents and pictures.

“Kinontak ko yung brother ko and umalis na po agad kami. As in ang lapit na ng apoy sa amin, nasa may backyard na po namin,” she said.

She added that there are about 25,000 people staying at the facility in Fort McKay.

“Sa isang lodge po, dumating yung isang helicopter para sa kailangan ng lahat ng tao dito and nagbigay sila ng free na food and higaan.”

Pineda said the Filipino community is also extending help to displaced families.

(Source: ABS-CBN.com)