Gerry and Mike Fortier all smiles  after delivering trailer load of  goodies. – photo courtesy City of Prince George

Prince George, B.C. –  With the memories  of the fire that ravaged Fort McMurray  still fresh in their minds,   the community of Fort McMurray  has shown  its support for the  B.C. wildfire evacuees  by  sending  donations to  British Columbia.

Saturday morning at 5am, two brothers from Fort McMurray jumped in their truck and drove all day to Prince George, pulling a trailer full of supplies for first responders and evacuees. As Mike and Gerry Fortier backed up that trailer on Sunday morning to unload, bright letters spelling “From Fort Mac with Love” could be read on the back.

“We’re just paying it forward,” said Mike Fortier, noting the tremendous support they felt from across Canada last year. Inside their trailer were new fire-retardant coveralls and respirators for firefighters, plus water, towels, diapers, children’s medicine, and personal care items. By late Sunday, most of their supplies were already being distributed to those who could use them.

The City is utilizing space at Interior Warehousing on River Road to receive and distribute supplies to assist evacuees and the evacuation effort. There are thousands of cots received from the national emergency stockpile in Edmonton, piled to the ceiling. Among the items just received yesterday were hundreds of pillows from the local Mormon congregation and 750 “comfort packages” from the Canadian Red Cross containing shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, and more.