Saturday May 23, at 4:30pm the Oxdrift Fire Department was dispatched to Hwy 502 and HWY 594 area for a grass fire.
On arrival at HWY 502 Oxdrift Fire reported the fire was into the forest trees and crowning, a immediate concern with the winds were the seven residents on Lever Road, East of Hwy 502.
Oxdrift Fire and Ministry of Natural Resources crews began attacking the fire off Hwy 502 and behind the homes on Lever Road.
The OPP were requested to evacuate all residents on Lever Road for safety as the fire was moving east swiftly through the trees. OPP also shut down Hwy 502 and Hwy 594 with assistance from the Dryden Police Service for a period of time.
The Oxdrift Fire Chief in Command then requested Mutual Aid from the Dryden Fire Service, Machin and Wabigoon Fire Departments to attend Lever Road and assist in protecting the residential structures there.
The MNR air attack crew of a helicopter with a water bucket, MNR ground crews, and the Fire Departments apparatus and companies protecting the homes were successful in keeping the fire from structures, the fire burnt to within fifty feet of two homes before being stopped.
A MNR CL415 water bomber aircraft arrived and knocked down the main body of forest fire burning, and MNR crews were able to secure a water line around the estimated 5ha fire perimeter after that.
At 8:30pm Oxdrift Fire Command and MNR declared the fire held and all residents were allowed back home. Machin, Wabigoon and Dryden Fire units were then released from the scene.
The Oxdrift Fire Department and MNR crews will remain on scene over the next few days for complete fire extinguishment.
