The fires continue to rage across Manitoba, and evacuees continue to be moved from their homes to towns and cities across Manitoba and provincial boundaries.
For former Killarney pastor couple, Darryl and Cindy Hartwig, they're in a safe place but their hearts are heavy at the loss of the Adult and Teen Challenge Men's campus at Denare Beach, SK. The Hartwigs have been living in Flin Flon over the past few years, with Darryl leading the team at the small community of Denare Beach, just 20 km southwest of Flin Flon as campus manager.
On Monday night the wildfire hopped the lake and swept through the town taking the Teen Challenge campus with it. The staff and students are safe in the Steinbach campus much to the relief of the team, but the loss of the campus weighs heavily on the Hartwigs as well as Denare Beach Director for Adult Teen Challenge, Allen Lagore and his wife Candy.
"It was a pretty rough day for us,” shares Darryl Hartwig. “You know, we found out that our campus burned to the ground. We saw pictures of it and actually a video of it and you know, it was just pretty hard to watch because you know it the fire just wiped it out it, you know, it didn't even look like the campus ever existed there. That's just how powerful that that fire was.”
“But yeah, it’s just really devastating for us and for pastor Lagore and his wife Candy, too, they're the ones who had had built it. And so, it's a pretty emotional day for them and for all of us as staff,” he adds.
Please listen to more with Darryl Hartwig below.
As of June 2, our Denare Beach Men’s Campus, home to eight students and two aftercare graduates, has been completely destroyed by a devastating wildfire. While all students and staff have been safely relocated, the loss is profound and deeply felt.
“We just feel our hearts are really broken. We love our community, and so many people have lost their homes. It's truly heartbreaking, this whole situation,” said Allen Lagore, Denare Beach Director for ATC. “Losing all your memories and your home is tragic. For our students, this was their home, and even though they are safely relocated, there is still loss and grief.”
"The fire continues to pose a serious threat to our nearby staff housing, vocational shop, and our community office in downtown Flin Flon as the winds shift. We ask that you continue to pray for Denare Beach and Flin Flon for the remaining facilities and for the communities as they grieve such a loss," shares Pastor Danny McVeigh, Chief Program Officer for Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada.
"We are incredibly grateful for the brave firefighting crews and volunteers working tirelessly on the ground, and for the outpouring of prayer and support we’ve already received," adds Pastor McVeigh.
Related article: Evacuated and uncertain: Former Killarney pastor couple share the tragedy facing Denare Beach ministry - Update
To learn more about the Denare Beach Live-in Men's Program click HERE!
If you would like to help, donations can be made at the link below to support displaced students and staff and help us begin rebuilding: