Tuesday 5 May 2015

On International Firefighters' Day – May 4th fire in Lanark County

We've had a fire ban for a couple of weeks. The dry leaves keep blowing into the garage, I sweep them out again. In the meantime, something has happened in our county.


I smelled smoke a several hours before I heard a siren, in the morning. Then, a fire truck in the afternoon – our BBDNE volunteers. Next, two, and three trucks, as well as the volunteers in their cars. They have green flashing lights. The Rescue truck followed.

A sixth truck went by (3:17), another went by back into town, sirens going and lights flashing. Most people pulled over, eventually.  This is what I thought: they're getting water from town, confirmed by Lake 88 radio:
Firefighters on scene of outbuilding fire on 3 Bay Rd off Elmgrove Rd. Motorists asked to be aware of trucks transporting water. No injuries

Two volunteers were stationed at Elm Grove Rd. and Three Bay Rd. directing traffic, I drove by to see how close it was to us. The wind is blowing smoke this way. Thank goodness for our volunteer firefighters. Things are tinder dry, and the wind is fierce.

This is an issue with cottage country seasonal residents, some don't want to pay their fair share of taxes, to provide a base, yet when things happen, you have to have the infrastructure in place. Many of us, obviously, live here full-time. The roads are narrow, and there isn't room for vehicles to pass. I took a drive to see if I could spot the fire from the opposite shoreline. All I could see what heavy smoke, being driven by the winds.

 
Fire: Otty Lake from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Irony is, it's
International Firefighters' Day!
Begun in 1999 in Australia.
It is a little lake, with some old cottages, and some new. I canoe on this lake.


Our firefighters are part of: Bathurst Burgess Drummond North Elmsley Fire Rescue (BBDNE)!


BBDNE firefighter trucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
This is the truth about rural firefighting. The trucks had to drive the 10k back into town to refill with water. Thank goodness for our BBDNE firefighters

I took a drive out there this morning. It's a beautiful cottage road, with many full-time residents. It looks like a workshop was totally devoured by flames. You can see where the trucks gained access by a side road. The former workshop at the top of this hill. Lots of mud.
It could have been much worse.
The house seemed untouched (centre right)

6 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Dramatic photos and video. Hope no one was hurt. We owe a lot to our firefighters.

William Kendall said...

I've known a volunteer firefighter up in Muskoka. It is just as demanding as full time fire fighting.

Nancy J said...

Here, in our small town, the volunteer fire-fighters provide the most wonderful service, for fires, accidents, and home call-outs. They back up a single-crew ambulance, and I admire each of them so much. I didn't realise how close to the road you lived, and then again, how far they have to travel for water refilling. Stay safe as your summer and hot dry season nears.

Red said...

Spring is always a very hazardous time of year for fires.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
There was a brush fire in the Highlands a couple of weeks back... they were talking about how dry it was.... (can you imagine the confused expression being worn here right now??!!!) It was, of course, deliberately lit.

Idiots. Thank goodness for the firefighters. YAM xx

Gill - That British Woman said...

we had a great team of volunteer firefighters at our last house. The ones in town are full time employees. They are heroes.