Canadians donate millions to Red Cross for Fort McMurray relief effort

TORONTO – People from across the country have banded together in what the president of the Canadian Red Cross says is an unprecedented “Canadian moment,” donating $30 million by Friday morning to help the victims of the massive wild fire in Fort McMurray, Alta.

“Canadians are collectively coming together to show their care and compassion,” Conrad Sauve said Friday.

“We have over 100,000 Canadians that have come to us with texts to donate. We’re getting offers from every part of the country, including corporate Canada in terms of workplace (fundraising) campaigns.”

About 14,000 families in need from the Fort McMurray area have registered with the Red Cross and that number is expected to grow.

Both the federal and Alberta governments have promised to match all donations to the Red Cross for the relief efforts in Fort McMurray.

The money is used to mobilize and provide support Red Cross volunteers who are helping evacuees. The cash is also used to provide basic goods to people fleeing the fire.

“We are distributing cots, blankets and other basic necessity items like hygiene kits for people who have been evacuated, sometimes only with what they were able to carry in their hands to their car,” said Jean-Pierre Taschereau, Red Cross director of emergency operations.

It’s not yet clear how much money will be needed because the relief effort is long-term.

The Red Cross was involved for four years following the 2011 fire that swept through Slave Lake, Alta., and destroyed 400 buildings. The agency provides help on top of what insurance companies and government programs offer.

“We’ll be able to assist people beyond the emergency phase, into the rebuilding and going back into their communities,” Taschereau said.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the Fort McMurray blaze is “an absolute beast of a fire” that is one of the worst ever seen.

“The situation is still evolving. It’s still very dangerous.”