From war to wildfire: Veteran volunteers help Fort McMurray

Team Rubicon has deployed to some of the world's largest disasters Syria, Sierra Leone and now Fort McMurray, Alta.

Their mission? Operation Pay Dirt. Officially, it's known as debris management to support the tens of thousands of residents who began returning this week.

Unofficially, they're just here to get it done.

"We're going to do what we can to get this place up and running as quickly as possible," said U.S. army veteran Douglas Buschbach and Team Rubicon membership manager.

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Despite his experience which includesserving as a scout in Afghanistan, Buschbach said it was still shocking to see how "everything was literally gone."

"I felt horrible," Buschbach said, an emergency room technician and the proud dad of a seven-year-old son. "I wanted to get in here and help."

On Thursday, Buschbach and his crew of volunteers spent another day decontaminating food outside the Wood Buffalo Food Bank as it aims to open next week.

The three-step process involves soap, bleach and water, not an easy feat under a boil-water advisory.

But in just two days they've cleaned8,400 kilograms of food. That's about the weight of two firetrucks. Next, they'll move on to the clean-up of homes and businesses.

"They have been absolutely amazing," said food bank director Arianna Johnson. "They've done a lot of heavy lifting for us,"

She chuckled describing how they bowled in the dumpster, setting up bottles of oil as pins.

"They've had a really good time with it," said Johnson. "They've actually brought a lot of ease to my staff because of their attitudes and the positivity they're bringing."

The team of 10 volunteers includes a U.S. Marine and Army Ranger, and a soldier from the Israel Defence Forces. More members are on the way. The team isalso working with members of a newer Canadian chapter launched last November.

"We're here to try to help people that are experiencing the worst things that they've ever experienced," said Buschbach. "Let them know that, 'It's okay. We're going to get you back on your feet'."

Team Rubicon has only been around since 2010. That's when a pair of U.S. Marines launched a six-member operation to respond to the Haiti earthquake.

The idea is to draw on the skills of military, first responders, medical personnel and civilians which go a long way in rapid deployment with little information on the ground, Buschbach said, adding it also helps eliminate political red tape that many traditional organizations face.

"We are all here to get work done, to work hard," he said. "We don't need to take as many breaks as is necessary."

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But the pay-off works both ways.

Transitioning to civilian life can leave you feeling lost, said Buschbach, explaining many miss serving and being part of something bigger than themselves.

He recalled how that changed within days of hisfirst deployment with Team Rubicon, responding to Hurricane Sandy in New York.

"I just felt like I was home again," said Buschbach. "It's like being in a family again. And you can't get that anywhere else. And it's one of the most amazing feelings ever."

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca @andreahuncar