Carberry crew assists in wildfire fight

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This article was published 07/06/2025 (292 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Terrifying,” is how Carberry deputy fire chief Grady Stephenson described the massive wildfire in northern Manitoba as seen from the air.

Stephenson flew in a military helicopter from Pukatawagan to Flin Flon after signing up to help defend the communities’ homes, businesses and infrastructure.

“We were flying alongside the fire most of the way from Pukatawagan,” Stephenson said. “This fire behaviour is so aggressive.

“Everything is so dry. Trees are burning like people have never seen before, and that’s terrifying when you think about how fast it can move.”

Stephenson and three other firefighters from the North Cypress-Langford Fire Department spent the last eight and a half days “doing a lot of hot spot fire control.”

He said it was “exhausting,” but amazing to be involved in such a huge operation.

“They made sure we had what we needed and made sure we were safe. There is a lot of experience there, so when somebody says you need to get out, you get out,” he said.

“You don’t second guess anything, that’s how you have to operate.”

The Carberry crew drove a pumper truck to Flin Flon, which will stay there for the next crew to take over.

“The night before we got to Flin Flon, it got really close to some of the properties that are right on the edge of town,” he said.

And while in Pukatawagan, Stephenson and others widened a roadway that wildfire crews had used as a firebreak.

“The fire actually jumped on us once, and we moved in an excavator to make sure that it didn’t go any further,” he said.

The wildfires in the north have merged into one massive blaze, which is now the largest in the province at more than 307,000 hectares, about 126 kilometres north of Flin Flon. More than 260 forest firefighters are battling the flames on the front lines, according to Manitoba Wildfire Service.

Stephenson and his Carberry crew were among 170 structural firefighters from 40 different fire departments across the province who brought 70 different pieces of apparatus to do their best against the fire, said Manitoba Fire Commissioner Ryan Schenk.

“I’m in awe,” he said. “In 20 years of being in emergency services, I have never seen an event of this size and scope.

“It is such an honour to be working alongside these folks to see their commitment, dedication and that selflessness,” said Schenk from the incident command centre in Flin Flon.

“They’re not there for themselves, they’re there to make sure people don’t have to navigate devastation or loss. They’re there to make sure people can come back to a home, and that’s happening all around the province right now.”

The battle plan for the structural firefighters is co-ordinated through Schenk’s Office of the Fire Commissioner under the province’s Fire Prevention and Emergency Responses Act.

“In this case, it’s a multi-agency response,” he said.

It includes the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, all the fire departments across Manitoba, the province’s wildfire service, conservation officers, and structural and forest firefighters.

Schenk is the incident commander for Lac du Bonnet, Lynn Lake, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Flin Flon, Tataskweyak Cree Nation and Pukatawagan.

“This is a 24-hour operation, identifying which areas we’re going to protect with sprinklers, or which areas we need to protect with fire engines, or doing hot-spot patrols,” Schenk said.

“None of this would be happening without support and partnership with the fire service. And frankly, when it comes to the Manitoba fire service, this is what the fire service represents. We’re in it together — one team, one voice,” he said.

“We do morning briefings and night briefings, and it is clear the morale and camaraderie is high. The operation is effective and efficient. It’s something incredible to see,” said Schenk.

Stephenson said it’s an experience he will never forget, adding the Pukatawagan fire department was “fantastic,” and the community members appreciative.

“They treated us very well,” he said. “As they were being evacuated, they were very happy to see us and gracious. I met a lot of really great people, and everybody was there for the same reason, and that was to help the city and the First Nation.

“We just went to work and did what we were asked to do. I’d love to do it again someday, but hopefully we never have to.”

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