CANORA - “It was an invaluable learning experience.”
Three members of the Canora & District Fire Dept. headed north to La Loche to assist with fighting fires in late July: Deputy Chief Eric Sweeney, and firefighters Mitch Krysa and Will Dupperon. They were joined by firefighter Dave Sutter from Springside.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) distributed a request through the Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighter’s Association (SVFFA) said Sweeney. They were seeking up to 10 Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD’s) able to send a structural or wildland engine (truck) and four members to assist with structural and community protection in the communities of La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation. These communities are located approximately 500km northwest of Prince Albert.
They departed Canora on the morning of July 21 and returned on July 27.
Sweeney said their assignment was to proactively protect the communities of La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation from the Park fire that was burning to the north.
“Part of this defense included encircling both communities with sprinklers,” said Sweeney. “As a compliment to this defense, VFD’s were tasked with patrolling the two communities.
“We were also tasked with applying fire resistant gel to approximately 10 structures and the grounds and vegetation at a hunting lodge approximately 60 km north of La Loche on Hwy 955. This was in response to the fire coming within a couple km of the facility. We applied fire resistant gel to 10 kilometers of power poles along Hwy 955 south from the Clearwater River.”
Sweeney said their work involved putting in long hours each day.
“Shifts were a minimum of 12 hours per day. However, we were out all night when we were tasked with applying the fire resistant gel to the hunting lodge facility.”
Thankfully, there was no fire damage to these communities when the crew members from Canora and Springside departed after completing their assignment on July 27.
Sweeney said that during their stay, they experienced excellent treatment from the local La Loche and Clearwater Dene Nation communities, even though available accommodations were understandably limited.
“As we are experiencing an unprecedented wild fire season this year in Saskatchewan, the SPSA’s assets have been stretched thin and all deployed elsewhere. Therefore we slept in tents and were only able to shower every few days when we were able to get into a school or the local fire department.”
Sweeney added that the time up north was “an excellent experience for our members as we had the opportunity to work collaboratively with other Fire Departments from various communities in Saskatchewan and other agencies (SPSA, Gel Systems Canada, etc.)."
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