Couple, Environmental Heroes Put Out Forest Fire in Canada

Environmental Heroes, Couple Risks Lives, Puts Out Forest Fire in Canada

With forest fire in Canada on the radar, meet impromptu environmental heroes Steve and Giselle Holmik. Spotting a flash fire from their small plane, they risked their lives to save the tinder try Boreal forest near their remote cottage west of Sudbury Ontario.

With the forest fire rating at Extreme in Northern Ontario due to the unusually dry Spring, the couple were enjoying a scenic flight in their small plane, on the way to their off the grid getaway on Lonely Lake. Veering overhead to see if friends were at their camp on neighbouring Onaping lake, they noticed forest fires in the distance in every direction. Giselle relates, “As we were over Helen lake approaching Lonely, we suddenly sighted a huge explosion seemingly coming out of the ground near Lonely. It was just like a volcano erupting. We had just heard an announcement on the radio that there was a fire North of Wahnapitae and a smaller one to the West.” Steve, piloting their small plane, tried to convince himself that it was just a train, but soon realized the tracks are not that close to the lake.

The couple flew over, scouting out a safe place to land. Taxiing by the narrows and observing the smoke, it was clear that fire had been burning for a few days. “With all the other fires going on, we had no idea how long it would take for the Ministry of Natural Resources to take action and the fire being near the camp, it was too close for comfort to be wondering and waiting,” says Giselle. Forest fire in Canada

“By the time we got to the site, there were trees going up in flames like fire crackers and Steve had to work at the old burnt site, still smoldering, before getting to the flames,” reports Giselle. They determined the fire, set by recent lightning, had tunneled into the ground. Realizing this was going to take longer that they thought, Giselle headed back to get more fuel for the water pump and a second hose. They connected the hoses and Steve continued working his way to the flames. Giselle was able to go in and start digging where he had put flames out, as it was obvious the parched earth underneath was still on fire.

Three grueling hours later, the environmental heroes had the area under control. During that time, a fire bomber was buzzing overhead. That crew realized that the couple amazingly had things under control, and moved on to other fires in the distance.

Later that evening, the couple inspected the site and found smoke still smoldering. By the next morning however, the area was smoke free. “That same night, a helicopter flew over Lonely, hovered a bit over the site with some sort of heat sensing equipment and then took off up North. It was a relief to see that!” the couple relates. The couple flew over the area again this week, spotted fine wisps of smoke and reported it to the MNR, who took over from there.

Giselle and Steve Holmik can be reached for comment at the family store, Roy’s Furniture. 705 674 5241

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