(Facebook/Nipawin Fire)

By Rachel May

Nipawin Fire Department Long Weekend

Nipawin Fire Department respond to multiple fires, lost boaters over long weekend

Sep 5, 2023 | 1:43 PM

The Nipawin Fire Department (NFD) had a busy long weekend between battling blazes and helping boaters back to shore.

Their first call about a fire was on Friday at 1:45 a.m. near the Old Nipawin Bridge. A passerby placed a call which helped the NFD battle the blaze before it was able to spread to standing crops.

Then on Sunday evening, they were called to a stranded boat in the river.

Fire Chief Paul Cockell told northeastNOW it was a tricky call due to many factors.

“There was so much smoke on the lake they were having a hard time seeing and the sun had gone down.”

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The boaters were able to tell the NFD approximately where they were due to being experienced on the water.

Despite being highly versed in boating, Cockell explained the conditions made it nearly impossible to navigate.

“You couldn’t see any of the landmarks on the sides, you couldn’t see any lights. We’re very glad that they called when they did as opposed to trying to come back upstream against the current with a trolling motor.”

The final call of the weekend happened on Monday morning as a structure and vehicle caught on fire in Nipawin.

The department acted as quickly as possible but due to the fires encroaching onto powerlines, Cockell explained that in these situations it is often an effort to contain the fire until SaskPower and SaskTel can arrive.

“If it’s far enough away from the line itself if we assume it’s still energized, we can work up to a certain area where it’s safe enough. We get within 50 yards of it and then that’s about as far as we’re gonna go.”

The fire was contained to the backyard of the property but did extensive damage to the SaskPower and SaskTel lines leaving surrounding properties with no service for an extended period of time. However, it’s since been restored.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM