Ramsay Fehr, a firefighter with the Treherne Fire Department, recently returned from a five-day deployment to Flin Flon, where he helped combat wildfires threatening the northern Manitoba community.
Fehr notes they were called up on June 1st, before returning on June 5th.
“We ended up leaving 6:00 AM Sunday morning, and we got back on Thursday evening, so we spent about 5 days away,” noted Fehr.
A joint effort from multiple departments
Fehr says he traveled with one other firefighter from Treherne, alongside three from Notre Dame and one from Somerset.
Once on site, Fehr remarks their role mainly involved monitoring hotspots and preventing the fire from spreading.
“There was a lot of monitoring the outskirts of Flin Flon just to make sure that there wasn't fires that were going to be a threat because there was still a lot of hotspots around town,” he explains.
Unique challenges of northern wildfires
Fehr adds this deployment was unlike anything he had experienced before in southern Manitoba, where wildfires tend to be smaller and less frequent.
“I have not been a part of anything to that extent... Just with the landscape and the trees that are in northern Manitoba. There's a lot of fuel for that fire.”
Describing the conditions, Fehr continues, “We were basically living in smoke for five days... The main head of the fire had moved on and we were dealing with a lot of hot spots.”
He recalls one night when the fire flared up near the airport south of town, producing a dramatic scene visible from a distance.
The importance of teamwork
Fehr notes the operation involved firefighters from across Manitoba, all working together with a shared goal.
“All working together for one purpose really, just to protect as much as they could. They've done an incredible job so far.”
He describes Flin Flon during the deployment as a “ghost town,” with all residents evacuated.
“The only people in town were emergency responders, firefighters and the office of the Fire Commissioner and some officials with the city of Flin Flon.”
Fehr says a key focus was protecting cottages and cabins south of town.
“There’s a lot of roads that have cottages and so the goal was to protect those cottages.”
While some damage occurred south of Flin Flon, Fehr says overall the efforts have been successful in limiting destruction.
Looking ahead
Although Fehr has no immediate plans to return, he mentions the possibility remains.
“I don't have any plans right away to go back," he said. "Although I probably would if I had the chance to go do it. It did sound like they are still looking for help up there.”
Fehr’s firsthand experience underscores the complexity and dedication involved in fighting northern wildfires, a team effort that continues as communities face ongoing threats.
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