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Three RM of Swift Current Fire Department firefighters have returned home after various tours up north fighting wildfires.
RM of Swift Current Fire Department Fire Chief Pete L'Heureux, firefighter Louis Cherpin, and firefighter Joni Hofer all spent time up north for the summer, lending aid to communities.
Hofer was the first to go, leaving during the first week of June. Her courageous efforts were first put on display in the community of Weyakwin, where she helped repel the flames from the Ramsay Bay lake community. She would then return and go back several more times, completing the most tours out of the three with a total of five locations under her belt. After Weyakwin, Hofer went to Jans Bay, Beauval, La Loche and Clearwater Denay First Nation.
"The first time I went, I felt I was fairly experienced and wanted to do something else," said Hofer. "Then, when I got the call the second time, I was a little more nervous to go back up because I had already experienced it once, but it was totally different.
"You don't know what you're going to walk into. You might think you do, but you don't. Even though you've been up there before, every day is a new experience. A different monster."
Cherpin was deployed in July, joining the efforts in Jans Bays, Beuval, La Loche and Clearwater Denay First Nation. L'Heureux was only able to spend a week away from Swift Current and his responsibilities, but got to fly in the helicopter and help clear landing sites with Cherpin, as well as help put out some fires himself.
"We got the opportunity to cut the helicopter spots in the forest while fires were all around us, literally," said L'Heureux. "So that when the army arrived, and the help from the Mexicans and everybody that came in to help, they're able to drop them in there to fight the fire. Never done that before, but I was pretty proud of the work that we did, and to be able to say that we did that is pretty fantastic."
L'Heureux was grateful for the chance to learn and grow as well. He commended the efforts of every volunteer who went north to fight these fires, and he appreciated the chance to expand his own skill set.
"We don't have the same kind of fires that they do up north with the brush and the tree fires, where it stands (compared to grass, which is strictly low to the ground)," said L'Heureux. "So for me it was the first time being in an area like that, watching one, being part of the forest fires in a very different style of firefighting."
Cherpin made note of how there was a cultural aspect to learn about as well. In Swift Current, when there is a fire ban, they shut down any fire without question. However, the reality of up north is that fires are sometimes necessary even during the fire ban.
"When the power is out and the gas is off, you need to use fire to cook," said Cherpin. "But even for other things, they have to use fire. Things like smoking fish. It's how you feed your family, so there are exceptions."
L'Heureux wishes he could have had more time up north, lending aid. He has a new perspective now on life and firefighting in Swift Current, grateful for the pace of life at home.
"Boring is good," said L'Heureux. "If you live in chaos all the time, that's usually when things are going wrong. (Swift Current) is a great community. It's safe... It makes you appreciate home."
All three got back home at the same time, with most other firefighters being sent home as well. Recent and ongoing rain has helped to put most of the fires down to more manageable levels.
