Mennonite Disaster Service breaks barriers in B.C.

The first disaster came in August 2003 with flames that scaled mountains, scorched highways and leapt across rivers. A local sawmill and homes in the North Thompson area of B.C., which includes the communities of Barriere and Louis Creek, went up in smoke. Temperatures became almost unbearable.

The second disaster came in October when a tired community, worn down by endless days of cleanup, learned that the largest employer was leaving town. With hundreds already out of work, officials at the Tolko Sawmill announced the business would not reopen.

The bad news increased the confusion and tension in North Thompson. The random path of the fire had already divided the population. Seventy-nine homes were destroyed while the houses of next-door neighbours survived unscathed. Barriers formed between the haves and the have-nots.

In the post-disaster community, individuals became branded with the labels of insured, uninsured, underinsured, homeless, injured and traumatized. The category of unemployed was an additional burden.

Asking for assistance was difficult. Many turned to the church. Some turned to the newly formed Community Recovery Committee for the North Thompson region, which served to connect disaster survivors with recovery resources.

One such recovery resource was the volunteer labour of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In September, MDS volunteers responded to an invitation to help with cleanup and the organization of the recovery committee.

Fred and Sue Kathler used their previous experience with MDS to help the recovery committee establish goals and priorities. The committee made a list of needs in the community and began to match those needs with resources.

MDS focus then shifted to long-term reconstruction. Volunteers broke ground on five new homes. Beginning in late October, they spread out across the valley framing, pouring concrete, laying tile and running wires.

Further up Highway 5, a team of MDS volunteers assembled roof trusses with volunteers from the Evangelical Free Church. The fire provided a unique opportunity for the denominations of the community to work together, said Karen Medland, minister at the United Church. “A door has opened into so many people’s hearts,” she said.

Volunteers build trusses for new homes in fire-damaged B.C. Photo: Ted Houser

Mennonite Diamond Service?

Earlier, MDS had also been involved in cleanup. Twenty-three youth from the Valley View Bible Church (MB) in Kamloops sifted through the remains of a home destroyed in the fire and found the owner’s diamond wedding ring. It was all she had wanted from the site, she said.

The high schoolers sorted debris and filled dumpsters at eight properties and visited sympathetically with devastated homeowners.

Volunteers at the MDS project in Barriere will work through the winter and into next year. Interested volunteers can contact the project directly at (250) 672-5666.

Donations may be sent to MDS, 306-2265 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg MB R3T 5J3 or MDS BC, Box 2038, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3T8.

—from reports by Ted Houser, MDS communications coordinator