Sifted from the ashes and blackened fire debris, small items are painstakingly uncovered. There’s a mug, a bottle and a keychain placed on a blue tarp next to the remnants of a home that burned in Faulder, B.C., during the Bald Range wildfire. “I’m always amazed at what we can find,” explained Andy Northup, a program manager with Christian-based charity Samaritan’s Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is one of several charities that has offered assistance in the community following the devastating Aug. 7 wildfire. More than 100 dwellings were lost that day in Faulder. Northup’s group of workers, primarily volunteers who came from across Canada, and even the U.S., recently wrapped up recovery work on more than 40 properties in the small, rural community. “We are a small piece of the pie to recovery, but I think we are an important piece,” said Northup, adding that there is no charge for their service. “When we pull stuff out of the ash….we’re pulling memory triggers out of the ash,” he explained. “As we find things, (the homeowners) say, ‘Oh, yes, that was such and such, that was from a trip we went on.’” Samantha Kowalski’s former home is one of those where the volunteers worked. “It was really almost healing to have them out here,” she said. “Not only did they, you know, find some of our special keepsakes that did make it, they were able to, I guess, give us a little bit of hope moving forward,” said Kowalski. Said Northup, “Just to be able to come alongside, get to know the homeowner and hear their story and just be a little part of their recovery, is really important to our volunteers.” He said despite what many homeowners in Faulder have lost, they remain “an incredible group of people … trying to grasp and hold on, and to continue on and start fresh.” One things the flames could not destroy appears to be the resilience of the community.
