SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN — Carlyle and Redvers might be hours away from the wildfires that are ravaging northern Saskatchewan, but the two small southeast towns have made contributions to the firefighting efforts.
Each community is providing manpower and equipment. Redvers supplied a 2,000-gallon tanker truck with a pump-and-roll option, while Carlyle brought up a wildland one-tonne truck with capabilities for fire control and the ability to attack hotspots in bushes.
"We manned each truck with two people, so we have … four people to operate," said Redvers Fire Chief Brad Hutton in an interview with SaskToday.
Hutton spoke from the community of Weyakwin, which is among the northern communities that has been evacuated because of the fires. Joining him from Redvers was Brendan Gaudet; they have been in Weyakwin since May 31. Hutton noted he would likely be heading back to Redvers on June 4, to be replaced by Channce Joanette. Gaudet will remain up north.
Since arriving in Weyakwin, Hutton said they have been maintaining all of the community's units that were running pumps and sprinkler systems to keep buildings cooled down from the advancing flames.
"We still maintain those, and then we've been patrolling along the side of the Number 2 highway, keeping the ditch hotspots cool, and helping just with … making sure the fire doesn't carry on in the ditch," he said.
On June 2, Hutton noted they spent most of the day at a camp on the west edge of Montreal Lake to keep sprinkler systems going and to ensure it also stays cool.
"The fire would be just south and north of us, for the most part, so this area here has all been burned pretty much right out. Now it's mostly just controlling hotspots and ensuring that all of the forests and stuff around Weyakwin doesn't reignite or ignite with stuff that hasn't burned yet. Anything that's not burned yet we do not want to burn, so we're making sure to protect it."
Rob Klassen, who is a deputy fire chief with the Carlyle Fire Department, said their two firefighters up north are Brent Stillwell, who is also a deputy fire chief, and Zane Vanderhulst. The duo arrived in northern Saskatchewan on the afternoon of June 1 and Klassen said they were put to work right away on "value protection
"They're protecting structures. They were sent up to Weyakwin to do value protection there, so they're watching for hotspots that come into the town," said Klassen.
They have since been deployed to Pelican Narrows and were patrolling one of the main highways for hotspots along the ditches. They have also applied foam to power poles in an effort to prevent them from catching fire.
"They're going wherever they're needed. It's such a fluid situation up there that they can be in Pelican Narrows today and La Ronge tomorrow," said Klassen.
The Carlyle members will be replaced June 5 and by two members from Carnduff who will go up and operate Carlyle's truck. Then Carlyle is slated to send two more firefighters to replace the Carnduff crew next week. The process will continue until their services are no longer needed.
Hutton said Redvers decided to contribute to the provincial firefighting effort after Huton saw some information from the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighters' Association. Hutton and Carlyle Fire Chief Don Van Meer spoke, and thought they could spare some equipment and team up to put together what Hutton called "a valuable package" for those up north.
The Town of Redvers and the RM of Antler, which supports the fire department, was eager to support, Hutton said. Their biggest concern was the health and safety of personnel.
"Carlyle and Redvers, we're going to work together back home if we have situations as well to ensure that with both of us missing one piece of equipment each, that we can back-cover one another if a situation arises in our area," said Hutton.
Klassen said they needed the blessing of town council to send equipment up there, and the town and RM councils were very supportive.
"The feedback that we have gotten from the community has been great," said Klassen.
Klassen noted the Carlyle department was contacted by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency for assistance. The town also sent assistance to La Ronge in 2015 and provided help for the firefighting efforts up there.
"They had contacted us again to see if we still had the same truck and if we could send some guys. We made the decision to send our truck back up with a couple of members," said Klassen.
The truck Carlyle sent is one of two wildland units for the department. Carlyle also still has its main firetruck to respond to calls.
"We do have apparatus still in town to service Carlyle and the surrounding RM, along with enough members to continue on with our duties in town," said Klassen.
The Carlyle deputy said it's been very important for communities outside of northern Saskatchewan to help with the response for an event of this size and this magnitude.
"It's great to see that there are a number of departments throughout the province that are sending equipment and manpower to assist with getting these fires under control," said Klassen, who added the same thing is happening in Manitoba with departments sending reinforcements to help those up north.
Hutton said the interactions with the other fire departments has been really good. They're working together well, and they're appreciative to have the southeast crews and equipment involved.
