A Canadian family were in Sutherland for a wedding when they learned that out-of-control wild fires were encroaching dangerously on their home town.
Michael Koochin (25) and Ashley Biggs (23) from Slave Lake, Alberta, married in Dornoch Cathedral last Thursday, and held their reception in the Dornoch Castle Hotel.
The trip was a dream come true for bride Ashley, a manager in her local Cash Store. She is fascinated by all things Scottish and always wanted to have her wedding in Scotland.
A nine-strong group of friends and family, including Michael's parents, Les and Debbie Koochin, and his sister, Julie, had travelled to be with the young couple for their Big Day.
The family arrived on the Monday (9th May) before the wedding and stayed at a self-catering cottage run by Robert and Dawn Powell in Brora.
But what should have been a joyful and worry-free occasion became laden with anxiety when they learned about the dramatic events unfolding back home.
They were shocked to hear that more than 100 wildfires had broken out in the province of Alberta since their departure. A number of the fires were raging out of control and threatening Slave Lake itself.
The Koochins kept in daily touch by text messages with friends, neighbours and work colleagues back home but could do nothing as the situation slowly worsened.
The crisis escalated quickly, until on Sunday the order was given to evacuate the 7000 strong population of Slave Lake. At that point more than a third of the town's houses, along with the local radio station, had been destroyed by fire.
According to reports, it was one of the largest single-day displacement of people ever to take place in Alberta.
Speaking to The Northern Times on Monday, just before the family were due to fly home, Les Koochin, an electrical instrument technical at the Slave Lake Pulp Mill, said: "As far as I know at the moment our house is still standing and so is my son's, but the government has now taken over and they are not letting anyone into the town.
"My wife is very worried about the two cats we have at home but I am more concerned about our property and machinery we have in the yard which is worth a lot of money."
He added: "I've been living in Slave Lake for over 30 years and during that time we have had a number of major fires. We live in what they call a boreal forest area."
Les Koochin said the crisis had spoilt their trip a "wee bit," but that they had loved Scotland and Sutherland in particular and intended to return.
In an e-mail sent to The Northern Times on Tuesday, Mr Koochin wrote: "Back in Canada, not allowed back as of yet, our places are still standing, but many friends and co-workers only have a suitcase and the car they left with to their name."
