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The Fire
Posted 21 June 2012, 7:13 am NDT
The last couple of days have been a whirlwind for us at Pratt Falls Salmon Lodge. We were busy preparing boats and getting freight ready to go to camp this week to open up, only to receive a phone call tuesday afternoon...FOREST FIRE!! Due to the high number of fires in Labrador, at first there was some confusion as to how close it was, but at around 5pm we had arial confirmation that it was around 2km west of the lodge and we had south westerly winds and 25-30 degree heat.
Needless to say we scrambled! We loaded up 2 boats with gas powered fire pumps and headed for Eagle. As we approached Eagle we could see the water bomber attacking the fire and the reaction of Dwight, Terry, and Bob (the "fire fighting crew") was, "WOW, that looks close to the lodge!". That evening was spent setting up fire pumps and soaking the perimeter of our camp. The wind was calm and by talking to Dept of Natural Resources we found out that by the end of the night the bomber had knocked the flames down and would be returning first thing in the morning as the fire was a critical state and still hot.
Next morning we all got up very early to be greeting by 25 km/hr winds from the SSW. Not good, blowing directly on the fire as it sat on the side of a hill and blowing it directly at us. It was an on edge morning. The bomber returned and a ground crew by helicopter came and set up another fire pump at the camp. Dwight had the opportunity to go up in chopper to look at the fire. It was not huge, roughly the same size as the property at the lodge, but it was very threatening, considering the location, heavily wooded, and the weather. A ground crew could not get at it. Still smoking along the south west side, both bomber and helicopter attacked it throughout the day.
We returned home to Cartwright last night out of neccessity. Freight is here that must go up to prepare the camp and the rest of the guides arrived in Cartwright last night. We have three fire pumps set up ready to go, and our fire is currently critical, but stable, and thankfully, the wind has turned around to come fom the north east. Department of Natural Resources will be attacking it again today.
It has been a close call, and weather-wise a rough start to the season. A few salmon have been spotted in the river. The river condition is extremely low for this time of year. We desperately need a good rain fall or July will see tough fishing conditions. Right now the river is very fishable, but it is abnormally low for this time of year. Amazing how it has changed from the raging height it was last month when it tore our steps from the riverbank. We will by praying for a good rainfall and hope you all do the same. In all the years we have been on Eagle River, nobody can recollect it being this low, this early in the season.
We will be opening up this weekend! Firing up power, hooking up water, testing communications, cleaning, cooking, maintenance. All the things that bring your experience in the wilderness to a high standard that we strive to provide. First guests arrive on the 29th and we look forward to hosting you...as the saying goes..."come hell or high water", never fit so right! We'll keep you posted on river conditions and our forest fire.
Needless to say we scrambled! We loaded up 2 boats with gas powered fire pumps and headed for Eagle. As we approached Eagle we could see the water bomber attacking the fire and the reaction of Dwight, Terry, and Bob (the "fire fighting crew") was, "WOW, that looks close to the lodge!". That evening was spent setting up fire pumps and soaking the perimeter of our camp. The wind was calm and by talking to Dept of Natural Resources we found out that by the end of the night the bomber had knocked the flames down and would be returning first thing in the morning as the fire was a critical state and still hot.
Next morning we all got up very early to be greeting by 25 km/hr winds from the SSW. Not good, blowing directly on the fire as it sat on the side of a hill and blowing it directly at us. It was an on edge morning. The bomber returned and a ground crew by helicopter came and set up another fire pump at the camp. Dwight had the opportunity to go up in chopper to look at the fire. It was not huge, roughly the same size as the property at the lodge, but it was very threatening, considering the location, heavily wooded, and the weather. A ground crew could not get at it. Still smoking along the south west side, both bomber and helicopter attacked it throughout the day.
We returned home to Cartwright last night out of neccessity. Freight is here that must go up to prepare the camp and the rest of the guides arrived in Cartwright last night. We have three fire pumps set up ready to go, and our fire is currently critical, but stable, and thankfully, the wind has turned around to come fom the north east. Department of Natural Resources will be attacking it again today.
It has been a close call, and weather-wise a rough start to the season. A few salmon have been spotted in the river. The river condition is extremely low for this time of year. We desperately need a good rain fall or July will see tough fishing conditions. Right now the river is very fishable, but it is abnormally low for this time of year. Amazing how it has changed from the raging height it was last month when it tore our steps from the riverbank. We will by praying for a good rainfall and hope you all do the same. In all the years we have been on Eagle River, nobody can recollect it being this low, this early in the season.
We will be opening up this weekend! Firing up power, hooking up water, testing communications, cleaning, cooking, maintenance. All the things that bring your experience in the wilderness to a high standard that we strive to provide. First guests arrive on the 29th and we look forward to hosting you...as the saying goes..."come hell or high water", never fit so right! We'll keep you posted on river conditions and our forest fire.
