Chinook Financial, a division of Connect First Credit Union, has partnered with Southern Alberta communities affected by last week's wildfires.

They have set up Crisis Intervention Funds, where Chinook Financial will match donations of up to $5,000.

The communities receiving these funds are Wheatland County, Empress, and Hilda.

Farmers and ranchers in these communities have lost cattle, land, buildings, and machinery.

President of Hilda Community Associations, Andy Krishenma, says residue which was burnt off the land will lead to soil erosion they haven't seen since the 1960's or 1980's.

"There's been buildings lost, and machines lost. Right now, it's a mad rush to keep all this land from blowing away that has been exposed. With no more straw on the land, we're starting to lose our top soil. This will have an effect, for at the minimum, the next five years. The cattle ranchers in Hilda have lost their livelihood. And for us farmers, we are at risk of seeing ours blow away over the next few months."

The Chief Administrative Officer of Family Community Support Services in Empress, Debbie Ross, says with the pastures gone, there's an inability to restock livestock which were lost to the fire.

"It's going to take years to rebuild, and a lot of this stuff is not covered by insurance. We need to support these farmers and ranchers in anyway we can. There are well over a dozen families in our communities who have lost a lot."

Donations are accepted at all Chinook Financial Branches.

Cheques can also be mailed to the Brooks or Strathmore Branch, which can be addressed to the Wheatland Fire Relief Fund, the Empress Fire Relief Fund, or the Hilda Fire Relief Fund.

 

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