Photos and Stories Wanted
Following is a brief account of the Shell Lake fire with photos that I took on May 30, 8 days after the fires started and the first day that it was considered under control. If you have stories or photos that you would like to share with other people on the Internet, send them to and they will be put on the Shell Lake site. Your photos will be returned. It would be great to have a good personal record of what happened. Thanks.
Photos and article Harry & Iris Miszaniec.
Shell Lake Fire - 2002
The call came in to the Shell Lake Fire Department on Wednesday, May 22 at 3:30 p.m. regarding a fire near Lockharts. Because of the strong winds and dry conditions, the fire was not considered under control until Thursday, May 30. Approximately 1480 hectares burned, from Lockhart's south on the west and close to Fir Lake on the east. The fire did not cross Hwy #3. (See map.)
Eight families were asked to evacuate: Dicus, Prafke, Laughren, Todosiev, Lockhart, Cox, Heimbecker, and Trefiak; no homes were lost to the fire, but Laughren, Todosiev, Cox and Heimbecker lost their yards. Other families were put on alert: from Gwen Sander on the west to Art Proulx on the east, and south to Pebble Baye.
The Shell Lake Fire Dept. was out Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to Thursday at 3 a.m., then again on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Other fire departments were also involved, while SERM (Prince Albert) co-ordinated the operation until the Provincial Type 2 Incident Command Team was brought in and took over on Friday. The Provincial Team operated out of the Pine Ridge Cottages Cabin #1, as well as from a day base near the fire.
Equipment used in the fire: a chemical plane, water
bombers, foam plane, helicopters, spotter planes, cats, skidders,
graders, payloaders.
8 fire camps are still set up, with 10 men in each camp.
A red fire retardent was dropped around threatened yards - this retardent is an organic base fertilizer that is harmless and will disappear.
According to Bud Sabean with the Command Centre, the fires this year are bigger and more threatening because of the extreme dry conditions and strong winds. Most of the fires this year have been set by humans, rather than by lightening.
The last word: be carfeul when you play with matches!
Thank yous
To the volunteer fire department; to those who brought food and water; to everyone who helped out - Thanks!
The families directly affected by the fire wish to specifically thank their friends and neighbours who helped them evacuate and/or hold back the fire.
The General Store apologizes for shortages on the shelves as they fill orders for the fire fighters and thanks their customers for their patience with the stressed-out staff! As well, thanks to the staff for their extra hard work.
Links
Saskatchewan Environment's Forest Fire Management page with a daily report, and information on how you can protect yourself and your property from wildfires.
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre - Current Report - Great page for current info from across Canada. So far this year (as of June 2), 337 fires have burned 77, 097.9 hectares in Saskatchewan.
Introduction to the Incident Command System from the B.C. Ministry of Environment
Cleaning up spot fires - May 30 2002
Bud Sabean and some of his crew at the Command Centre
Logistics: what do we have, where is it, and what will we need?
Burnt area near Heimbecker's.
What is left of Meroslov Todosiev's place
