Members of the Canadian trucking industry are banding together to help the victims of the massive fire that has destroyed at least 1,600 buildings and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from the community of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
88,000 residents of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada have fled this massive wildfire.The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is asking its membership of 4,500 Canadian motor carriers to help by making donations to the Red Cross. The CTA has contributed $12,000 to the Red Cross Alberta Fires donation appeal.
“We appreciate the effort from everyone across Canada. It is a dire event and any help we can get is appreciated greatly,” said CTA Chairperson Gene Orlick, who runs a trucking company in Rocky View, Alberta. and is chair of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA).
CTA is encouraging those wishing to make larger corporate donations in support of the Fort McMurray wildfire disaster to do so at www.redcross.ca. For those in the industry who may want to make smaller donations, CTA and AMTA is encouraging the industry to donate $5 by texting REDCROSS to 30333.
“The people of Fort McMurray have supported Canadian prosperity for years, now it’s our turn to support them,” said CTA CEO David Bradley.
A statement from the CTA adds:
“As the needs on the ground become clearer in the coming days, CTA expects to hear from the Red Cross regarding possible assistance the industry could provide in the form of transportation and logistics services. CTA and its provincial partners will work through the Red Cross and not-for profit Trucks For Change Network to coordinate and attempt to fulfill these transportation requests to the Fort McMurray region.”
