GOOD WORKS
THE LOOK OF THE MOMENT Travis Kendel, P.Eng., sports a respirator during an outing in Fort McMurray. Even on May 16, the air quality in the city was poor.
lines to prevent debris from entering the system and causing back- ups. As with the other challenges they faced, staff and contractors ensured the work was done as quickly as possible. Mr. Colbert, who was initially evacuated, remembers coming back and speaking with an employee about his experience. He was covered in dirt and sweat, physically and mentally exhausted — but still ready to get back to work. “That moment solidified what we were there to do: we needed to work hard to get the residents of our city back to their homes,” he says. Like other frontline workers, RMWB staff were happy to rise to the challenge. “As engineers, professionals, municipal employees, we have a duty to serve our public. Being able to serve in this context, when our community was in this extreme need, is probably the most rewarding professional experience I’ll ever have the privilege to participate in,” says Mr. Kendel, who slept on a cot in his office for three weeks. His efforts also included a 2 a.m. drive through smoke and flames so that he and other employees could hand-operate pumps that were supplying water to the frontlines. On behalf of the response team, Mr. Kendel accepted the Governor General’s Commendation for Outstanding Service, in June. Accepting with him were two other RMWB leaders — Kevin Scoble, P.Eng., Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, and Guy Jette, Water Treatment Plant Manager. And Stephanie? Did she say yes? She did, when Mr. Kendel proposed during a 48-hour leave, later in May. The couple plans to stay in Fort McMurray for the long term.
-photo courtesy Travis Kendel, P.Eng.
QUICK FACTS • The Fort McMurray evacuation was the largest in Alberta’s history. • The Beast — as the fire became known — was fueled by hot, dry conditions and strong winds. It became so large, it created its own weather system. • Although 90 per cent of Fort McMurray was saved, 2,600 structures were destroyed across the entire Wood Buffalo region, mostly homes. • 600,000 hectares of forest burned, an area larger than Prince Edward Island. • The wildfire threatened the city for weeks and was finally declared under control on July 5. • Insured damage is estimated at $3.98 billion . • The Government of Alberta estimates its costs for response and recovery at $647 million. • Oil sands production in the region dropped by about one million barrels a day in May and by about 700,000 barrels in June.
WINTER 2016 PEG | 55
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