The Ministry of Natural Resources says Saturday’s fire just southwest of Dryden could have been a lot worse.
Response and Operations Manager Dave Cleavely was a guest on the CKDR Morning Show Monday and he says they were contacted by Oxdrift Fire for assistance around 4:30.
He says it started on Highway 502 and quickly made its way to homes on Lever Road.
Cleavely says the flames were more than three metres high.
He says firefighters were able to keep the fire in check with ground support and helicopters with water buckets.
Cleavely notes the fire could have destroyed the nearby homes as the flames came as close as 50-feet from some of them.
He notes the blaze was also close to spreading to the river and the mill.
Cleavely notes the key to success was the Oxdrift Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief quickly made the call for help, calling it the right move.
No one was injured.
Firefighters from Oxdrift, Dryden, Wabigoon, Machin and the MNR were all involved and they also had support from Dryden Police and Provincial Police.
Cleavely notes their water bombers were tied up in fires in the Shoal Lake and Sioux Lookout area.
He stresses Dryden Fire #16 was a classic example of inter-agency response.
