Fraser Valley truck drivers load up with donations for Fort McMurray fire victims

Truckers in B.C.'s FraserValley arehauling essential items for the victims of the devastatingwildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta.

"I phoned my boss and said,'Hey, is it okay to have a tractor trailer do a run to Alberta with supplies?'" said Gord Van Laerhoven with Bulldog Transport, based in Chilliwack.

In just over 24 hours, foursemi-truckswere filled with essential goods like diapers, water, toilet paper and pet foodas well as $25,000 cash.

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Local transport companies have donated the trucks, trailers and drivers.

"People have stepped up in droves to donate fuel and pay for any of the expenses to go," said Dustin Van Dokkumburg, who owns an eponymous transport company.

Donations were still coming in as the trucks were about to leave on Friday afternoon.

"Everywhere in the surrounding community, everyone's just come together," Van Laerhoven said.

The original plan was to truck the goods to Lac la Biche, but the donation centre there is full now. So the trucks will be headed to an air strip outside of Edmonton instead.

In Langley, a family-owned moving company is also heading to Alberta with supplies.

"It's pretty brutal, so everybody just feels they need to do something to help andwe're here to provide that," said KaryMovers ownerJohn Cousineau.

Red Cross urges cash donations

The Canadian Red Cross is urging those who want to help to makea cash donation, as gifts in kindcan bemore "cumbersome" to "operationalize."

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The federal and Alberta governmentshave beenmatching donations.As of Friday, $30 million had been raised.

Conrad Sauv, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Red Cross, said some 14,000 families in need of assistance have registered with the relief agency.