The news photos of SL Ford Sales Ltd’s. burned trucks were flashed across Canada after a wildfire consumed approximately one-third of Slave Lake, a northern B.C. community in May 2011.
But since then SL Ford and its employees have been helping to re-build what is still a damaged community where the blaze caused $700 million in damages.
Dealer principal Doug Babiy recalls May 15, the day the devastating fire raced towards town. There had been an alert warning town residents to prepare to evacuate and to listen to the local radio station. “I had gone to the dealership to hook up my holiday trailer,” he said, as l60 km/h winds pushed flames closer to downtown.
Babiy considered going into the dealership building to get papers and perhaps some cheques. Before Babiy got to the dealership door, big black gusts of smoke covered him. “I could hear explosions, cars burning. I knew the fire had hit the town.”
There was only time to load up and run. It would be 12 days before Babiy and son Chad, sales manager, would be allowed back into town but not before going through many anxious moments. Initially, it was reported that the dealership building had burned. When Babiy and son Chad walked onto the lot they saw that the fire had either missed buildings or totally consumed all in its path. A total of 39 new trucks were destroyed (and three were partly damaged). The trucks would join an estimated 500 burned vehicles in town that were towed to portable crushers.
“We got in on the 27th of May and opened on the 28th,” tells son Chad, as the building only suffered minor soot and smoke damage, which was immediately addressed by the insurance company. Father Doug Babiy says that he knew there would be no work for his 30 employees initially but the employees were his real assets. “I didn’t want to lose them,” he said. So, he sent out the word that his employees would help people who needed assistance. “If someone needed a fridge moved or if a senior needed grass cut, we would do it,” he said, adding he also rolled up his sleeves and went out helping people clean up and re-establish their lives. Babiy said he has also since tried to work with his staff — three of whom have lost homes — as they try to rebuild their lives.
The dealership also offered to check over vehicles that had been involved in the fire. “We have had vehicles come in with the body side moldings melted and the windows fogged as the heat had taken the glaze off the windows,” he said. Although, it has been half a year since the fire, he said, residents are still bringing vehicles for an inspection.
Babiy said the fire, which is considered the second worst natural disaster in Canadian history surpassed only by the Quebec ice-storm, has drawn the community closer together. “Acquaintances have become friends and friends have become like family,” he said. He said he is especially proud of the support he received from the Ford dealers and the manufacturer.
“They called me the first day after we left town,” said Babiy. A representative from Ford Credit called to let him know they were aware of the situation and were contacting insurers. The next day a representative from Ford Canada called to let him know that they were looking for replacement inventory, he said. “Ford asked dealers to give up their allotments and they did,” said a grateful Babiy, who saw a full lot 30-45 days later. Nearby Ford dealers also gave up stock and if a customer wanted a vehicle that wasn’t at the lot, Babiy said other Ford dealers arranged to have one arrive.
