Former ’65 SOSS graduate Herfried Schmidt and his wife Elaine escaped with their gardening clothes when warned to evacuate their Slave Lake, Alberta home on the weekend. Herfried, contacted in Edmonton Wednesday says it has been an emotional roller coaster to lose your house and belongings and leave the town with nothing but your gardening clothes and a travel trailer. Schmidt says the couple knew there was a nearby fire but were not warned to leave by authorities. The wind had shifted and a friend called  while the pair were out in the garden and said – “get out of there, now!!”.

They did. The did not have time to save family heirlooms, pictures, prize possessions etc.

Herfried said in the end it might be best and the motivation to move to the Okanagan is now stronger.