Avyn Riewe is back home, but could have to leave again
⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️
- CONTENT WARNING: This story contains information about wildfires forcing people out of their homes. Consider reading it with a trusted adult. It’s common to have an emotional reaction to the news.
- Wildfires have been raging across northern Alberta for weeks.
- More than 11,500 people remain evacuated from their homes.
- Many homes have been destroyed.
- A 14-year-old from Grande Prairie shared her story of escape.
- Read on to find out what happened. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
It was the evening of May 5. The sky was bright orange and full of plumes of smoke.
Avyn Riewe, a 14-year-old from Grande Prairie, Alberta, sat in her family’s car with more than a dozen pets and farm animals in the back seat, and looked back at the house she grew up in.
“I saw my parents shut the door and it just kind of hit me, I don’t know what’s going to happen and if our house will still be there when I get back. I was just bawling,” she told CBC Kids News.
Avyn is one of thousands of Albertans who have had to suddenly evacuate from their homes in the last few weeks due to wildfires all across the province.
As of May 17, more than 11,990 people remain evacuated from their homes, and 92 active wildfires are burning across the central and northern half of the province.
Although Avyn has returned home, her family is still on high alert.
“It’s kind of just something I always thought I could return to, until I couldn’t.” - Avyn Riewe, age 14
She said it’s been scary but the experience has reminded her of the generosity of others in times of need.
3 dogs, 2 cats, 11 chickens and a few budgies
On May 4, Avyn and her family were told to pack a bag in case they had to flee, with wildfires coming closer and closer to their home.
But the order to leave still felt like a surprise.
“All of a sudden, we got an alert on our phones saying to evacuate. It was so, so sudden,” she said.
Avyn and her family, who live on a farm, have more than a dozen chickens, two cats, three dogs and two budgies, which they split between two cars.
Getting them all in the cars wasn’t easy amid the chaos.
“The cats were hiding and trying to get out of the car. My one cat escaped and we had to put him back inside three different times,” she said.
Avyn Riewe, 14, said she is thankful for all the support her family and others have received during wildfires in Alberta. (Image submitted by Avyn Riewe)
With very little direction from the province on what to do or where to go, Avyn, her mom, and 15-year-old brother decided to drive to her grandparents’ house in Dawson, British Columbia — about an hour and a half drive away.
“It was so hard to see because of all the smoke. It was orange and red and just dark. It was kind of thick everywhere, it was almost like fog,” she said.
That night, Avyn arrived at her grandparents’ house, but couldn’t get her home off her mind.
“There were a lot of rumors spreading around that people’s houses were burning down, especially in our area. I couldn’t sleep that night, I was so worried.”
Wildfires, including this one outside of High Level, Alberta, on May 14, have led thousands of Albertans to evacuate from their homes. (Image credit: Deb Stecyk)
The next morning, her parents reassured her that their house was fine as they could see it with remote cameras on the property.
School, province provide support
After spending the weekend in B.C., Avyn and her family were given the word that it was safe to return to some areas of Grande Prairie.
The province provided them with a hotel room in Grande Prairie while they waited for word that it was safe to go back to their house.
Avyn and her older brother check their phones for wildfire updates in the hotel they stayed in in Grande Prairie. (Image submitted by Avyn Riewe)
They stayed there for nearly a week. During that time, Avyn’s school, Whispering Ridge Community School, set up all kinds of support for students in need.
“It was hard, but I felt happy and thankful that our school has helped out so much, like giving us free lunches or washing machines if we need to wash our clothes.”
On May 14, nearly 10 days after leaving, Avyn and her family were told they could return home.
“It was completely untouched, it was such a relief. We built that house and we lived in it my entire childhood, so many memories were made there.”
The Alberta government has had to call on more than 1,000 firefighters from out of province to help, including some from the United States. (Image credit: Reuters)
Feelings of gratitude
Avyn’s family and the rest of Grande Prairie are still on high alert and have bags packed in case they have to leave again.
Despite that, Avyn said the last 10 days have reminded her just how much she loves her family.
“I learned not to take everything for granted. A year ago, I would have never thought I’d have to leave home because it’s kind of just something I always thought I could return to, until I couldn’t.”
She said that other Canadian kids should know that there is community support in times of need.
“It taught me that people are willing and wanting to help.”
More than 1,000 firefighters from across Canada and even parts of the U.S. are on the ground helping.
Officials are warning the fire season could drag on for months in Alberta.
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Alberta teen flees wildfire with more than a dozen animals in the back seat - CBC.ca
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