‘Rollercoaster of emotions’: N.S. wildfire evacuee wins 50-50 firefighter draw | 24CA News

Susan Cooper has had some unusual luck as of late — and loads to be glad about.

She and her household have been among the many more-than 16,000 individuals who needed to flee their properties as a result of wildfire that broke out two-and-a-half weeks in the past within the Tantallon space of Halifax.

“It was nothing like I’ve ever experienced,” mentioned Cooper, who described a scene of unexpectedly packing a couple of belongings and escaping the flames and smoke that broke out within the Westwood Hills subdivision on May 28.

“It was surreal.”

Cooper, her husband and their teenage son have been in a position to stick with her mom, who lives in Clayton Park. Their canine, a dachshund, was additionally evacuated however he needed to keep elsewhere.

Last Thursday, Cooper and her household went out for dinner. They have been ready for the invoice when she remembered the firefighter 50-50 raffle was occurring that night.

The 50-50 draw, which is designed to boost cash to help firefighters throughout the province, is a weekly on-line jackpot that’s hosted by Nova Scotia Firefighters 50-50, a non-profit group.

Cooper — who had “randomly” bought tickets for attracts up to now — wished to supply her help to the firefighters who had spent numerous hours preventing the wildfire in her neighbourhood.

She determined to buy $20 value of tickets.

“I’m like, ‘Yes, I need to do that, I need to support our local people who have saved our home and our neighbourhood,’” she informed Global News.

Later on, they have been again at her mom’s place, winding down along with her household when her cellular phone rang, with news that she had gained the jackpot: $483,390.

“I didn’t even know how much it was, because I didn’t even look. He told me and then I’m like, ‘Are you serious?’” Cooper mentioned.

“I’m sitting here, trying to arrange a blow-up mattress for my son to sleep on because we’ve been fire displaced, and we know so many people that have lost their homes … it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions.”

Her 16-year-old son, Jacob, described the win as “surreal.”

“I’ve never seen my parents so happy,” he mentioned. “When we saw the cheque, it felt like it was actually real.”

Cooper mentioned that they had been joking round beforehand about what they’d do with the cash in the event that they ended up profitable.

Now that they’ve gained, she mentioned none of that issues anymore. They plan to make use of the cash to fund Jacob’s training and pay for a household cruise, however aside from that, they’re going to take it day-by-day.

Cooper mentioned the wildfire made them admire the little issues in life.

“When I was looking around the room at my mom’s, the most important things to us were already in that room, and everybody that we knew were safe and accounted for — other than being reunited with our dog, which was a top priority,” she mentioned.

“We had what we needed, and we’ve been very fortunate to come back to a street that hasn’t really been impacted, other than the emotional side, and the fridge and freezer and the food lost.”

She and her household have been reunited with their canine and have been capable of return residence a few days in the past. She mentioned they have been fortunate that their residence was intact — aside from some minor smoke injury — and that’s sufficient.

‘We’re so grateful’

Cooper bought her tickets in help of the Black Point Volunteer Fire Department on St. Margarets Bay Road, the place a consolation centre had been arrange for evacuees.

Fred Layton, the platoon captain for the division, mentioned whereas the firefighters weren’t those working the consolation station, they have been busy preventing the Tantallon hearth, together with different departments locally.

In the 50-50 draw, half of the proceeds go to the winner, and 36 per cent goes to the hearth departments. The relaxation goes towards administrative prices. Last week’s draw raised a complete of $966,780.

Where Cooper’s tickets have been bought for the Black Point Volunteer Fire Department, the station will get an additional $1,000. Layton mentioned they may use the draw cash to buy new lockers to retailer firefighting gear.

“We like the support that people are giving us. We’re getting a lot of support, which I think is great,” he mentioned. “Our people did work hard, and all the other stations as well.”

1:46Two firefighters share their story after rescuing a person from his residence throughout Tantallon wildfire

Layton mentioned he was glad the winner of the draw was somebody affected by the wildfires.

“I think it’s excellent for her, especially being put out for a bit,” he mentioned.

Cooper prolonged her because of the firefighters who labored to place out the flames, a few of whom misplaced their very own properties within the devastation.

“I thank them for their time, their efforts, their sweat, and being separated from their families,” she mentioned. “We’re so grateful for their actions, their bravery, their heroism.”

Jacob agreed.

“You worked long days, 36-hour shifts, in our neighbourhood,” he mentioned.

“To those who lost their homes and were still fighting fire with every little bit that they had — thank you to all of them and we’re so grateful for their efforts to save what we still have.”