FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — A Fort McMurray firefighter recorded a video of his own home burning the first day of the May 3 wildfire that caused over 80,000 inhabitants to evacuate.
Firefighter Mark Stephenson was battling fires throughout the city, when he arrived in his own neighborhood. At that point, his home was not yet on fire, but the fire was advancing from his neighbor’s fences to his.
Stephenson attempted to cut down the flaming fences with a chainsaw, but the area was quickly overrun by the fire.
“It was just consuming house by house by house,” Stephenson told CBC. “The water pressure dropped so drastically in the hydrants that we couldn’t even defend.”
In the video, Stephenson addressed his wife, telling her, “It’s only a home babe. Love you. I’m safe. Glad you guys got out OK.”
After that, Stephenson went back to work and continued battling fires throughout the city.
Around 20 firefighters lost their homes during the wildfire. Many continue to live with colleagues, away from their families and deal with insurance claims.
“It’s devastating even for us firefighters,” Stephenson said. “But not one of us that lost a home gave up on the fight for even a minute.”
Although Stephenson and his family lost nearly everything in the fire, he hopes to rebuild and raise his children in the area.