Manitoba businesses are helping people escape and fight wildfires

As residents of Cranberry Portage fled the burning fire with what they could, the owners of a gas station in Cranberry Portage stayed behind to help those trying to save the community from the blaze.

Melissa and Blair Lundy have owned MnB's Gas Bar for the past four years. When the evacuation was ordered, the owners made sure the generator was running so they could continue pumping gas.

“It was a critical need to release the gas,” Blair said. “Otherwise it's an hour to get gas.”

Blair said their parking lot was full of people trying to escape the fire.

After the situation was settled, the couple at the gas station realized that the people who were left fighting the fire were not fed.

“Everybody seemed so slow and lazy back then,” Melissa said. “So I started cooking because we have to feed them to keep going.”

“It was right up my alley. I like to cook for large groups. My grandmother taught me well.”

Melissa cooked roast beef, meatballs, elk soup and other food for the firefighters, she said, thanking them for their help.

“They're eating and going out, but they're very appreciative of the food they're getting,” he said. “So that makes me happy.”

The couple received words of encouragement from people in and outside the community.

“The school in Lac du Bonnet made me a poster saying stay strong,” Blair said. “It was very sweet of them.”

As community residents are allowed to return on Sunday, Melissa and Blair are looking forward to their regular customers.

“We can't wait to open the pothole machine and start giving out free potholes to all the kids back in town,” Blair said. “That's where we're so excited.”

– With files from CTV's Daniel Halmarson.