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POSTCARDA third of Slave Lake’sbuildings were destroyed bya wildfire this May, includingthe town hall (pictured).after the fireAug. 18, 2011photo by garrett keygrowing up in slave lake, we’d had evacuations forother fires before, but I never thought fire would hit ourtown. That seemed so unbelievable.I’m living in Edmonton now, and I remember thenight, May 16, when everyone left Slave Lake. Whenmy sister, her fiancé and my cousin showed up at mydoorstep, they all smelled like smoke, and they’d lostpretty much everything except what they had with them.Fire had hit the town. It sounded like my parents’ placemight be gone. It took a while for it to sink in. I reallywanted to go back and see for myself.I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t really have a planof what I wanted to take photos of. When I first arrived, Ididn’t take any. That felt wrong.I didn’t take photos of my grandparents’ placewhen they were there. Their trailer was reduced tonothing, but their garage was completely untouched.My grandpa was really affected by it. It’s hard to seeyour grandma crying. It was really difficult; I really didn’tknow what to say or do. It’s hard to make them feelbetter when they’re standing in the rubble.My grandparents are living with my parents now.My parents live on an acreage surrounded by trees; somewere completely charred. Also, my dad has a shop there.The trees alongside that had burned and charredthe sides of it, but everything inside was fine. We’reso fortunate that the fire came so close and we stillhave a home.It’s a really weird mixture of being happy that myparents’ place is still standing and, at the same time,there are all these people I know who lost so much. Itwas hard to shoot, but, at the same time, I appreciatedocumenting it. It’s easy to forget some of these things.It’s a nice reminder to know that, through this tragedy,people persevere.I think a lot of people are staying and are goingto rebuild. It’s a close-knit community. People builttheir lives and their homes here. I think there are a fewwho have decided it’s time to move on, but most havedecided to stay. It starts with the town office: they’djust finished building that and the library. Brand new.Now they have to start all over again, but I think thecommunity will continue as it was.Garrett KeyPhotographic Technology ’11As told to Rachelle DrouinTechlife invites NAITstudents, alumni, staffand friends to shareexperiences and photosfrom their travels.v5.1 2011 53