Wildfire response wraps up in the North Shuswap

“I see [MDS] as an orchestra led by God, where all the musicians are looking at God for the next cue,” reflected Isabelle Labelle, a wildfire survivor, at the closing celebration of the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Shuswap Response. “What do we do next? Where do we go next?”

MDS completed a house build for Labelle and her family in mid-August — one of four homes rebuilt in North Shuswap, British Columbia, after the Bush Creek East Wildfire devastated the area in 2023.

These house builds, and four home repair projects, were completed by approximately 400 volunteers over a five-month period. The home repair projects were unanticipated add-ons in August, when high volunteer numbers prompted MDS Shuswap Response leads to look for more work.

The final home repair project was completed for Heather Muraca and her 21-year-old son in Adam’s Lake, British Columbia. Muraca’s trailer home has been unlivable since the fire because of water damage from mitigation efforts. Without a safe home, and with a heart condition, respiratory concerns and delays in insurance coverage, she wasn’t sure what to do.

Isabelle Labelle, a homeowner from Celista, British Columbia, speaks at the MDS Shuswap Closing Celebration with her husband Jade Shamen and son Abel Shamen (4) to the right.
MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

When she was referred to MDS, the project director, Roman Heuft, determined that the organization could fix up and winterproof an old cabin on her property. A crew of MDS volunteers spent the final two weeks of the Shuswap response on Muraca’s cabin. They reinforced the structure, insulated, installed windows and wiring, repaired a dilapidated deck and house-wrapped the building.

“I was so worried not knowing what was going to happen,” said Muraca. “[The cabin] is a million times better. It’s structurally sound. These guys are incredible.”

As the last upgrades were made to her cabin, a home dedication took place to welcome Ted Edbom to his new house, September 4, 2024. Since volunteers broke ground on his house in June, he spent every day working alongside them.

“I’m lost for words as there’s so many [who] took time off their own work to come work here and they said it was a vacation,” shared Edbom.

An MDS closing program was held on the same day to celebrate and say goodbye to the larger North Shuswap community. Approximately 75 local residents and MDS volunteers attended. Community partners, MDS representatives and homeowners spoke, while the host church, North Shuswap Christian Fellowship, served a potluck dinner.

“I cannot imagine a better community to work together with. Thank you for… being so welcoming to MDS. You have made this just an absolute delight,” said Ross Penner, MDS Canada Executive Director.

“I learned a lot about Mennonite Disaster Services… What an amazing learning curve and experience that was,” reciprocated Kris Jensen of the Shuswap Community Foundation. “I’m very well aware literally hundreds of volunteers showed up to help our community out. That is astounding and heartwarming. And not only did I learn about the Mennonite Disaster Services and the work that they did, but I also feel that I made some new friends.”

“Now we feel like we’re part of a team,” added Labelle who, with her husband Jade Shamen, is already looking ahead to possible volunteer placements with MDS, where she hopes they can help others recovering from disaster.

MDS volunteers make final upgrades to Heather Muraca’s cabin near Adam’s Lake, British Columbia.
MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

Nikki Hamm Gwala, MDS Canada Communications