British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 2023 wildfires were a life-changing disaster for many, and their impact has echoed into the holiday season.

The fire season was already breaking records by mid-August when forecasters warned that dry lightning and strong winds on the way were a recipe for catastrophe. Thousands were forced to leave in the southern Interior ahead of fast-moving wildfires. Fire officials described a ferocious fight to save homes, but hundreds were burned to their foundations in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions.

From fire chiefs, to those who lost their homes, to Pumba the pig, here香蕉视频直播檚 how some affected by the emergency are spending their holiday season:

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香蕉视频直播業 DON香蕉视频直播橳 THINK WE香蕉视频直播橵E EVER BEEN STRONGER香蕉视频直播�

Paul Zydowicz is among 13 members of the Wilson香蕉视频直播檚 Landing Fire Department who lost their homes when a wildfire tore through their small community on the shores of Okanagan Lake in August.

The fire chief said the disaster 香蕉视频直播渆clipsed香蕉视频直播� everything else they experienced this year.

香蕉视频直播淩egardless of what else happened in everybody香蕉视频直播檚 lives, we just keep on going back and talking about the fire,香蕉视频直播� Zydowicz said.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of associated stress, there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of trauma, there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of sadness, but I think overall, the community is pretty positive in our plans going forward.香蕉视频直播�

As terrible as it was, Zydowicz said the destructive fire has pulled people together.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think we香蕉视频直播檝e ever been stronger as far as the feeling of community.香蕉视频直播�

Zydowicz said the holiday season will help people as they try to 香蕉视频直播済o back to normal,香蕉视频直播� but it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to start from scratch.

香蕉视频直播淎ll the Christmas decorations that aren香蕉视频直播檛 there anymore, that you香蕉视频直播檝e accumulated for 20, 30 years sometimes, and the older folks, longer than that,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 have those things your kids made 香蕉视频直播� that used to hang on the tree every year.香蕉视频直播�

He and his family are renting a house in nearby West Kelowna, where they can stay for up to two years as they start the process of rebuilding.

Others have temporary arrangements, as they struggle to find a home in the rental market, he said.

Zydowicz said he香蕉视频直播檚 heard of insurance companies indicating it could be three or four years before some residents will be able to return home after rebuilding.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 rather massive, because we just added 200 homes to be rebuilt in a very small area and 香蕉视频直播� you know, the rest of the province was burning too.香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播�

Looking ahead, Zydowicz said he hopes the landscape starts showing signs of recovery and the rebuilding process is smooth for those who lost their homes.

香蕉视频直播淩ebuilding is part of it, but there香蕉视频直播檚 only so much we can do about nature and I香蕉视频直播檓 hoping that we have nature help us with making the area look green again, because that香蕉视频直播檚 what was the magic about our little neck of the woods here.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播業T香蕉视频直播橲 JUST GONNA BE A LOT OF HARD WORK香蕉视频直播�

Jesse Zeman and his family use to host holiday gatherings at their property, where people could skate on an outdoor rink and go tobogganing.

But their home was destroyed in the wildfire that raced through forest and suburbs in West Kelowna in August.

香蕉视频直播淭he good news is we have a place now and get to see some family over the holidays and yeah, so that香蕉视频直播檚 the silver lining I guess,香蕉视频直播� he said.

After the fire, Zeman and his wife and two children stayed with family, then lived in a short-term rental for months before finding a new place at the beginning of December.

He said the family will be there for about six months as they wait on their insurance claim so they can begin rebuilding.

Zeman said it香蕉视频直播檚 been somewhat overwhelming trying to deal with the preparations to rebuild, but over the holidays, they香蕉视频直播檒l be spending time with family 香蕉视频直播渁nd taking time to relax.香蕉视频直播�

The stress of dealing with the area香蕉视频直播檚 tight rental market after the fire was difficult to manage, he said, but the flip-side has seen those in his neighbourhood come together to support each other.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 see any miracles on the horizon. It香蕉视频直播檚 just gonna be a lot of hard work,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 definitely, I would say, brought our neighbourhood together for sure, which has been really good. Everybody香蕉视频直播檚 reaching out and in contact and supporting each other. So, that香蕉视频直播檚 been that香蕉视频直播檚 been pretty, pretty awesome for sure.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播楳AKING IT THROUGH, BUT NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY香蕉视频直播�

Jennifer Hansen helped feed firefighters and evacuees during the wildfires and said she香蕉视频直播檚 one of the lucky ones this Christmas in West Kelowna.

The Salvation Army captain said she香蕉视频直播檒l be spending Christmas in her home, with her family, putting up decorations that have been part of her holiday traditions for years.

Others won香蕉视频直播檛 be so fortunate, said Hansen who is hearing from people who lost their homes in the wildfires who are struggling emotionally and financially.

香蕉视频直播淔or me it was an inconvenience,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e were out of our house for 10 days but we went back and everything was there as is and I got to pull out my decorations and put them up.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪ome of these folks tell stories of them thinking back to the Christmas decorations that were very sentimental to them that were passed down through the family and over time, that the kids made for them or a parent gave to them, and they don香蕉视频直播檛 have those anymore,香蕉视频直播� Hansen said.

She said Christmas can also be a reminder for some of everything that was lost.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty heartbreaking, heartbreaking stories that we香蕉视频直播檙e hearing,香蕉视频直播� said Hansen. 香蕉视频直播淚t is difficult and I don香蕉视频直播檛 think I香蕉视频直播檒l play it down and say, 香蕉视频直播榠t香蕉视频直播檚 not that bad.香蕉视频直播� People are making it through but not without difficulty.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播楢 VERY DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS香蕉视频直播�

The scars of the McDougall Creek wildfire that raced through West Kelowna in August are plainly visible this holiday season.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said groups are coming together every day to support those who lost their homes.

香蕉视频直播淎nd it香蕉视频直播檚 devastating to look up on the hills there and see the scars, and know that means a very different Christmas for those whose homes were lost.

香蕉视频直播淭he early days of the fire were difficult physically for us because we were working hard and we weren香蕉视频直播檛 sleeping or eating properly,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I think that as time has gone on, things have become more challenging mentally.香蕉视频直播�

But Brolund 香蕉视频直播� who became a nationally known figure due to daily fire briefings and went on to address the United Nations 香蕉视频直播� said the wildfire has also brought out the best in the community as people rallied around firefighters and those who lost their homes.

He said that, just as the scars of the fire are still visible, so are signs along the edge of the highway with messages of gratitude and support for emergency response staff and others.

香蕉视频直播淭he number of cards and signs that were at the firehall was overwhelming,香蕉视频直播� Brolund said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a sign up in the firehall here from a family that lost their home, and we walk by that every day.香蕉视频直播�

He said the fire brought the importance of family back into focus.

香蕉视频直播淣one of this would have been possible for our firefighters if it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for our families,香蕉视频直播� Brolund said. 香蕉视频直播淭he majority of our firefighters were evacuated during this fire, and they didn香蕉视频直播檛 have time to go home to pack. So, none of this (effort) would have happened if it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 for the families taking care of that at home.香蕉视频直播�

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PUMBA THE PIG 香蕉视频直播楯UST LIVING HER BEST LIFE香蕉视频直播�

Pumba the pig didn香蕉视频直播檛 just survive when a wildfire swept over the Broken Rail Ranch in West Kelowna in August.

She香蕉视频直播檚 thriving, according to Keramia Lawrie, whose parents own the ranch. She said Pumba was looking forward to a Christmas meal of turkey leftovers and maybe some spaghetti.

Lawrie said Pumba emerged from the disaster with a taste for pasta thanks to firefighters who took care of her after she was found alive in the ruins of the ranch.

A helicopter pilot initially threw granola bars from the air to sustain Pumba but later other firefighters 香蕉视频直播淒oorDashed her spaghetti,香蕉视频直播� said Lawrie.

She said Pumba refused to eat her regular diet after being 香蕉视频直播渟o spoiled香蕉视频直播� by the fire crews, but she won香蕉视频直播檛 begrudge a Christmas feast for the hog.

香蕉视频直播淚 think she deserves that. She is a survivor,香蕉视频直播� Lawrie said.

When the fire swept over the farm in August, Lawrie香蕉视频直播檚 father, Jeff Findlay, had to escape without Pumba and her sister Miss Wilbur. Pumba was spotted from the air roaming on a patch of grass, but Miss Wilbur didn香蕉视频直播檛 survive.

Lawrie said Pumba appeared to have overcome the loss of Miss Wilbur and moved on with her life.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we are gonna get her another pig eventually, but right now she seems pretty happy hanging out with the goats and the horses,香蕉视频直播� said Lawrie. 香蕉视频直播淪he gets lots of attention.香蕉视频直播�

Pumba香蕉视频直播檚 daily routine involves lots of napping and when she is awake, she hangs out with other farm animals.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 kind of her day, she is very spoiled. She doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to work or anything,香蕉视频直播� laughed Lawrie.

Community volunteers have come together over the past few months to help rebuild the farm, including a little hut for Pumba to replace the one destroyed in the fire.

香蕉视频直播淪he loves it. She香蕉视频直播檚 very happy,香蕉视频直播� said Lawrie. 香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 really just living her best life.香蕉视频直播�

Two mysteries remain, Lawrie said. The first is how the giant pig survived in the eye of the wildfire storm. The second is how much she weighs because she香蕉视频直播檚 now too big to fit on the scale.

READ ALSO: West Kelowna ranch heart 香蕉视频直播榖roken香蕉视频直播� after losing property, beloved pig to fire

READ ALSO: 13 Wilson香蕉视频直播檚 Landing firefighters lose their homes to McDougall Creek wildfire