Evacuees find food, comfort on the road from Fort McMurray

It might be the first time Grassland, Alta.has seemed likean oasis.

But that's precisely what the northern hamlet has become for many of the thousands of people fleeing Fort McMurray.

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For those running from the forest fire that threatens to burn their homes to the ground, the hospitality found here about 226 kilometres to the southwest, more than halfway to Edmonton is like cool water on a parched throat.

Roxanne Power is one of thousands who found sanctuary after a long night on the road.

"It was very hard.We spent the night on the side of the road in Wandering River," another small communityto the north, she said.

"It was chaotic."

A seemingly endless line of cars stretches as far as the eye can see down the highway towards Fort McMurray. Power saidthe ferocity and speed of the fire that chased them here caught her by surprise.

"Coming up through downtown was very difficult, heart wrenching to see the fire was everywhere, it was not a good scene," she told CBC News.

Freezing, damp and horrible

Kelsey Saunders and her family are also on the move after spending a long, cold night in tents by the side of Highway 63.

"It was freezing and damp and horrible, absolutely horrible," Saunders said.

Saunders hopes her home in Fort McMurray survives but,after witnessing the flames up close last night, and with more hot, dry weather forecast, she has her doubts.

"It was just black smoke and flames," she said. "The sun was red, everything was covered in black, just horrible."

In Grassland they have found the basics:food, fuel, shelter and water. They have also found a community exhibiting a single-minded determination to help.

RoannBaldry, a teacher at the nearby school, helped to organize a buffet, beds andeven childcare for the kidsstranded here managing itall in just hours

She stands on the side of the highway holding a big sign that reads, "Welcome evacuees food, shelter."

"First thing this morning the texts flew furiously what do we need to do?What do we need to pick up?" she said.

Baldry saidthere is a simple reason why the hamlet reacted so quickly.

"These are our people. They come through here everyday. We see them on the road everyday and to see them having to leave their homes. So many people. It's just heartbreaking for us."

And it's not just the people fleeing Fort McMurray that Baldry and her neighbours are helping.They managed to find some dog food for the four-legged evacuees as well.

It is a kindness that does not go unnoticed by the people stranded here waiting for fuel, food and news.

For them it makes a nearly unbearable situation manageable.

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