Local fire fighters have suited up and headed up north to help in the wildfire fight near Flin Flon.
From the Pembina Triangle Mutual Aid District are - 3 members and a tanker truck from Morden, 2 members from Plum Coulee and 1 from St. Jean.
Morden's Fire Chief, Andy Thiessen, says the request came in Monday night and the group hit the road Tuesday morning.
"It was kind of a moment," he explained, describing the feel as he saw them off. "They're excited, and I know what's like because I've done that before and it is exciting (because) you're doing something totally different but the same. It's nice to see that these young guys have a passion to help out and do what they can. It was a good feeling."
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Because they drove up in the department's tanker truck, Thiessen expects the crew will be busy shuttling around and refilling water supplies to the various trucks positioned along the fire line.
Overall, he says the whole experience is humbling. As a department that predominantly fights structure fires, Thiessen says wildfire fighting is a whole different animal.
"It is kind of nice that some of our members can experience how that's done and experience the comradery of the fire service and how we band together when it's needed," he added.
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Chris Lemky, Chief for the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department, agreed, noting 5 members from his department answered the call for volunteers within an hour.
"Being a part of that bigger picture, the Manitoba Fire Service, not just our little block here, helping others out when they need help is kind of what we do in the fire service. In emergency services, we're there to help people out and so, if there's an opportunity to do it in another part of the province, we'll gladly do it."
Meantime, he says wildfire fighting isn't anything new to some of the members, noting they've previously lent a hand in the Ashern and Vita areas.
Lemky expects the crew will be up in Flin Flon for about a week.
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Additionally, the Morris Fire Department sent two members and a pumper truck up north as well.
With files from Robyn Wiebe.