B Flat

Fire Season in Alberta usually starts in spring when the weather warms and nothing has greened out yet. Dead, dry matter burns well. Who knew? Fire Season is typically over and out by the end of August. But not this year, in case you hadn’t caught that from previous posts. Fire Season is still ongoing and it’s nearly October. That’s Unusual, with a capital U.

An aircraft mechanic stopped by my shop earlier this week to order some commemorative stickers for his crew. He mentioned that this is the first time his water bomber crew has ever been “redeployed” after Fire Season was officially declared over.

The Basset Lake fire near the indigenous settlement of Chateh flared up again. As in, it ran more than 30km in one day, burning merrily along, vaulting Highway 58, but tripping on the power line on its way over, cutting power to a couple communities, and blanketing the area in thick smoke. Needless to say, the Chateh residents are back in High Level for another unplanned “Evacuation Holiday” this year. Three square meals a day, free laundry services, free propane and fuel. What’s not to like?

Tolko, our local lumber mill, had a satellite lumber yard in the path of this sprinting fire. When they called for water bomber support to douse the heaps of dry wood to keep them from igniting, they were informed that Fire Season was over and the bombers had been stowed away. However, when a fire is raging and endangering indigenous communities, government officials can act quickly. Hence, the redeployment of Alberta Wildfire Air Attack Group 13. They’ve been diligently working to calm the fire, extinguish hotspots, and officially end Fire Season 2023 once and for all.

This aero-mechanic I spoke with mentioned that Fire Season typically starts around the NHL Playoffs and is over by end of August. However, this year he got to watch the Pre-season game in which the Flames soundly beat the Canucks 10-0. Let’s just hope the flames by Chateh don’t beat these courageous canucks of the sky in like manner.

It’s high time for Fire Season to properly close and stop the overlap with Hockey Season.