It might be the largest fire that Lac La Biche County firefighters have seen in their careers, but that’ s not deterring them from battling a blaze so infamous it has a name: The Beast.
It might be the largest fire that Lac La Biche County firefighters have seen in their careers, but that’ s not deterring them from battling a blaze so infamous it has a name: The Beast.
In fact, local responders were the first to arrive when the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo called for outside help with fighting a wildfire that had entered Fort McMurray and forced an 80,000-person evacuation.
With a note of pride in his voice, Regional Fire Chief John Kokotilo said his firefighters have been dispatched to some of the most seriously affected areas of Fort McMurray-because they’ re good at what they do.
“The Lac La Biche County firefighters are some of the best wildland firefighters out there,” he said.
The crews from this area have recent experience in handling both structure fires and blazes on the ground and in the trees, he said. Even so, the fire was continuing to grow at press time, spurred on by strong winds and tinder-dry conditions.
“It has to be Mother Nature that has to help out,” Kokotilo said.
Local firefighters are spending two days at a time in Wood Buffalo, working long hours to try to contain the blaze. Kokotilo, who has been spending most of his days at the Bold Center helping to coordinate relief efforts for Fort McMurray evacuees coming to this area, said he still has the authority to recall personnel if they’ re needed locally.
