Northern Manitoba Forest Fires

[gatorhunter]

These are a few photos of the situation in the Cold Lake/Sherridon area (west central Manitoba near Flin Flon, east side of Kississing Lake) at the end of May.

Extreme fire behaviour was demonstrated. You'll notice that the smoke plumes are vertical which means that this fire was not wind driven. It was so intense that it advanced on its own, spewing fire brands that ignited other fires in front.

You'll get an appreciation of the combination of luck and hard work that resulted in only a couple of old sheds being lost in the communities. Two railway bridges outside of the communities were also burned.

Sprinklers were placed on all buildings, bridges and harvested wood piles threatened by the advancing fire. The fire was eventually held at 10,400 ha (23,000 acres).

All photographs were taken by some of the fire fighters on site during the advance of the fire.

The Cranberry Portage/Sherridon/Pukatawagan area received less than 10 mm (< half an inch) of rain in the past 3 weeks. Before that, it had not rained since early April. That area of Manitoba is not over the danger of wild land fire!

[Quetico]

Is the fire danger high all across central Canada? I'm heading for the English River in west central Ontario a week from today.

Hope everyone's alright up there.

[gatorhunter]

Some parts of Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are having high fire danger levels. That leaves a lot of country for fishing. I haven't heard anything about Ontario yet. No news is good news.