Sask. family camps roadside overnight after Fort McMurray fire

MalissaHolstein and herhusband are originally from Leader, Sask., and moved to FortMcMurray, Alta.,four years ago.The couplenow lives in theThickwoodneighbourhood with their three-year-old daughter, five-year-old son, and their dog.

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Holstein spoke to CBC Radio's Morning Edition about a 24-hour periodin Fort McMurraywhere thingswent from normal to chaosas they fledthe city for safety.

Tuesday morning

Malissa Holstein saidTuesday morning was smoky, but it started as a regular day.

Shegot dressed, had breakfast, dropped her son off at school, and then got groceries.

"We kinda knew it was a comingso we did a huge grocery pack and I loaded up our motorhome," Holstein said.

She addedthe couplemade sure to pack two weeks of food in case there was a situation where they had to leave their home.

Noon

By the time she picked up her son from kindergarten, parents were starting to talk about how the fire had jumped and was getting closer to the city.

After lunch, the family continued to pack but with more detail.

"We packed up suitcases,our passports and our safe, and all the stuff you would expect you would take if you're never coming back to your house."

Holstein saidthey made sure to bring anything they'd need to survive on their own in case they got turned away from one of the camps where people where headed for temporary shelter.

Afternoon

At 3 p.m. CST, the family left their home but then spent an hour stuck in traffic just one block away from their house.

It took them more than three hours to leave the city.When they finally got out, they headed north in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Holstein described the scene as apocalyptic. "Cars were stalling. Pregnant moms were standing at the side of the road. It was devasting."

Evening

The family didn't make it to the camp.

Holstein saidthey ended up parking their camper onthe side of the road at around 9 p.m. They travelledwith their neighbourswho have a trailer and they stayed close by.

"We had accommodations and food so we wanted to leave that space [in the camp]for people that were coming out in just their cars."

Holstein saidshe tried to stay as calm as possible. Her children are three and five years old so they didn't really understand what was happening.She saidthe kids thought it was a fun night where they got to camp with their neighbours.

Wednesday morning

At 6:30a.m. CST,her husband left to goback to work in the oilsands.

"He is at site doing what he needs to do make sure the people are safe there and we just are praying that we'll all soon be together," Holstein said.

She and the kids droveto Edmonton where they have friends andfamily, and a place to stay. She addedthe air quality was better.

Holstein saidshe receivedinformation that her neighbourhood is one of the places in town that was minimally affected by the fire.

"We're expecting fully to go home and have a house," Holstein said. "It's probably going to be stinky from the smoke but we have a house."