Former Saulites recount desperate escape as Fort McMurray burns

Escaping what he calls ‘total carnage’, a former Sault resident is recounting his story of survival as wildfires began engulfing the city of Fort McMurray yesterday.

“The damage that we saw, the destruction — cars on the side of the road, buses melted right to the frame, trailer parks wiped out, the Super 8 motel wiped out,” said Bob Davidson, who has been living in Fort McMurray for more than three years, working in the oil sand extraction industry.

“Carnage,” he added.

After his shift yesterday, Davidson met up with his son Robert at the house where he had been staying.

“Once we got to the house you could see [the fire] from the backyard. Then they come out with the advisory for all of Fort McMurray that you had to leave,” said Davidson.

Officials gave the order to evacuate about 80,000 residents in the city.

“Your family, your loved ones, your pets — you’re leaving everything else behind. My son and I got a bag each — our identification and a bag each. I just took one photo album and that’s it. My bank card and whatever cash I had on me. I even left my jewelry behind. It meant nothing to me at that time. I had a chain that belonged to my mom — I made sure I took that,” said Davidson.

He added, “I had my son with me, that was the main thing. Just to get him to a safe place.”

Originally from Toronto, Davidson lived in Sault Ste. Marie for about 10 years while working for Tenaris Algoma Tubes.

He was active in the local wrestling scene under the pseudonym, ‘The Inmate’.

Davidson said forest fires are common in the Fort McMurray area, but the danger was elevated this season after a mild winter.

“Everything dried up really quick. One thing here, it goes from winter to summer — like that. You don’t get spring,” said Davidson.

After grabbing his belongings, Davidson and his son made their way south to Edmonton.

He said the scene during the more than 400-kilometre drive was surreal.

With a miles-long traffic jam and abandoned cars on the sides of the road, Davidson likened the exodus to a scene in the movie I Am Legend.

“When they are evacuating the town and the helicopter and the firetrucks and police cars. It was just like that,” he said.

Despite the carnage, Davidson said the emergency has brought out the best in people.

Along the highway, Davidson said, one stranger was distributing supplies to people fleeing the city.

“He just had like 20 containers of food — sandwiches, pop, apples, water — handing them to people through their car windows as they went by,” he said.

Davidson’s boss took he and his son in at his house in Edmonton.

“He took us in with open arms and made sure we had a place to stay with food and shelter,” said Davidson.

He added, “Canada is a beautiful country, brother. It brings tears to my eyes.”