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Hartley Bushell, A stubborn Canadian is defying the raging wildfire that’s been devouring the northern Alberta town of Fort McMurray.
Hartley Bushell didn’t do it alone, either. He said he had his wife, Chalinee, at his side.
“My wife was in tears and wanted to leave, but I wouldn’t do anything that would endanger her, ever, so I assured her we were going to be OK.
“I didn’t want to see it go up in smoke because it would be a year later that I’d move into a plastic house — somewhere I don’t want to be — and it certainly wouldn’t have an outdoor kitchen and a water feature.”
Sgt. John Spaans, with the Alberta RCMP, said there have been others who stayed put, though he wouldn’t say how many, as officers don’t want to discourage residents who fled.
He said RCMP can’t force people to leave via arrest, unless they pose a danger to themselves and the public.
Bushell was told to leave numerous times, but said he knew he was in the clear.
“I’m not a dare devil,” he said. “We maintained a vigilant, diligent spark watch. We had an easy escape route and our vehicle was packed with supplies.”
He said he used his neighbours’ hoses to create a “wall of water” until about 1 a.m. Wednesday, as flaming debris blew in from the highway.
“We stayed the course and kept everything from igniting until the fire was no longer an immediate threat,” he said. “The fire department came and killed the fire on the east side of the highway, where I am.”
The next morning, he ventured to his friend’s homestead, where he found a whimpering P.J. the pug among the rubble.
“I scooped him up and took him back to my place,” he said. “I phoned the owner right away and the little girl was very happy.”
And ever since animal rescuers retrieved P.J. late last week, Bushell said he’s felt a bit lonely. His wife is currently in Nova Scotia for their godchild’s christening and to relax.
“I’m a patient man, and I’m being vigilant but the fire risk has passed,” he said. “The firefighters have done a gargantuan, heroic job to keep this fire from destroying this city. They deserve every accolade.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
Really glad it worked out OK for him. Staying was risky but so was leaving so he made the right choice.
The RCMP do not want people stay, or regret leaving but their actions in past mandatory evac’s result in the need for at least some citizens to stay if only to protect property against the police. Of course a fire keeps police much busier than a flood and with the damage to the reputation of the RCMP being so fresh it is likely HQ issued orders that police were to respect peoples property, at least this time.
Having people like Hartley telling us what is really happening helps reassure everyone, even those concerned about the police having access to evacuated areas.