Mayor Copeland: Proud of Cold Lake’s Ft Mac Fire Fighting Efforts

“People should be incredibly proud to be from Cold Lake,” Mayor of the city, Craig Copeland, says the community has shown what Cold Lake is all about and opened its hearts to the evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfire. The City hasn’t officially been designated as an evacuee centre; however, many people have self-evacuated to the area. With the incredible spirit of helping your neighbours, that Cold Lake is known for, the Mayor says “generosity has been really great.”

We’re here to help, that’s the key message. – Craig Copeland Mayor of Cold Lake

“Cold Lake, Bonnyville, Lac La Biche and St. Paul residents should be proud of our emergency services,” Mayor Copeland acknowledges all the crews from the surrounding communities that are in the Fort McMurray area helping battle the blaze. Cold Lake has two fire crews and two trucks, while the RCMP have sent seven members up north. Cold Lake RCMP also reports that it is likely their two ATVs will be requested for help with RCMP searching Fort McMurray. “We are in there, helping save infrastructure and people’s homes.”

“The base has really stepped up,” Mayor Copeland says crews from 4-Wing Cold Lake have been deployed to help the fire fighting efforts. “We have search & rescue and choppers up there. The base is involved in this enormous evacuation in a huge way.” The mayor believes 4-Wing was involved in escorting the people evacuated from the camps north of Fort McMurray. “It’s been a real team effort.”

Our people are putting their lives at risk, we’re right on the front lives. – Craig Copeland Mayor of Cold Lake

Back home, citizens of the Lakeland area are doing what they can to help, says Mayor Copeland. “People have been donating supplies of all kinds,” various community groups and churches are working together to find one group to take on the donations. (When this is established LCN will update the public).

“Right now, we haven’t been asked [to be an official evacuee centre],” the Mayor, having been familiar with the situation from last summer taking in over 300 evacuees from LaRonge, Saskatchewan, explains there’s a lot that goes into housing evacuees. “It’s a coordinated effort. And the reason it’s coordinated is because of the supplies. There’s been a large push for Edmonton and Calgary, probably because of the long-term housing need that’ll have to materialize.”

Cold Lake is contributing & I think, everybody should be proud! – Craig Copeland Mayor of Cold Lake

Mayor Copeland is in regular contact with the mayor of Lac La Biche County, Omar Moghrabi to see if there is any way for Cold Lake to help the area which is housing 9000+ evacuees. “Lac La Biche is managing okay. One option, if you want to volunteer, is to contact the Bold Centre to see if they are in need of help. People willing to go to Lac La Biche for a day and give their volunteers a break would probably be great for them.”

“We’re encouraging [the evacuees] in Cold Lake, to register with the Red Cross,” Mayor Copeland says if you can’t get through to Red Cross you can check in at the FCSS in the city. The FCSS will be able to connect services and needs with people; as well as register with the Red Cross. The province will be releasing $1250 per adult and $500 per dependent early this week, evacuees must register with Red Cross to receive this money.