Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 31, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A13 Winnipeg free press thursday August 31, 2006 fro the West and beyond in the fire at ground Zero firefighters risk life and limb battling blazes in the Forest a s one might predict from our fairly dry summer the incidence of Forest fires in Manitoba in 2006 is higher than Normal ? with 520 outbreaks compared to a 10-year average of 460. As a vet eran of firefighting during one of the worst seasons on record the summer of 1989, that scary fact reminds me of the selfless Dedica Tion of the people risking life and limb on the front lines to protect their communities. By the autumn of 1989, 1,140 Forest fires con suming 2.7 million hectares had raged across Northern Manitoba. The fires forced the evacuation of 25 communities with about 25,000 people displaced. Damage and firefighting costs were estimated at $72 million. Like Many others living in the Pas i was recruited to fight the big Talbot Lake fire burning near Moose Lake. My Crew which included the legendary northerner Albert Ballantyne operated four bulldozers at ground Zero. Ollie Watts and Arnold Thorn who would raid the Cooks tent each morning in a search for raw onions which to the amusement of native firefighters they would eat like apples made up the rest of our team. Although much has changed today with More safety measures in place fighting a Large Forest was completely free of ice. The cattails and assessment of the danger came Back to haunt a new fire line. Two skidders from a now fire is still a very dangerous task. Grass protruding through the ice had to be us. Around 1 p.m., the fire took off and started defunct company Moose Lake loggers were to one Day a natural resources officer no slowed Down. As our dozers had wider pads shooting plumes nine to 12 metres above the follow us and do Brush push up. They we retold us to build Landing pads for helicopters Ballantyne and myself were volunteered. But Trees with a Roar like a Jet plane taking off. I already there about half a Kilometre ahead of every 900 metres or so along the fire line. He How deep was the Bay unsure if we would quickly realized there was no possible Chance of us when the fire decided to take off. Bouncing indicated the wind had changed and if the fire crash through or not we had an audience As we outrunning the fire through the thick Bush but i up and Down the rough terrain the skidders decided to take off he wanted pads for the started onto the ice. We opted to run in High had lost my sense of the direction in which the made a run in our direction As they tried to out choppers to pull the fire Crews out in a hurry. Gear to Lessen the Chance of breaking through Lake now Lay. Run the fire just behind them. Reaching us the poor visibility due to heavy smoke made it and hit the ice one behind another. The ice i slowed a Large a turn in the Bush and head hopped out of their machines and laughed Ner almost impossible to see that far ahead. Our Job rolled in front of our dozers like a wave but did de straight Back. On the other Side i was Sously. Pretty damned close he one of them was punctuated by the constant whup whup of not break. After several passes we climbed the relieved to see Ballantyne heading in my direct said. Once the fire died Back Down in we went helicopter rotors and at times Only six metres far Shore and laughed at our Good Luck and dry Tion. The no soon emerged from my Trail again. Above the Trees the Roar of water bombers clothes. Through the Bush and said you almost ran Over i no longer fight fires but my Job with Mani steadily dumping tons of water on the fire. As i we were informed that a fire Camp had been me with the Roar of the fire i could not hear Toba conservation takes me to initial attack looked Down the fire line ghosts seemed to set up around the Point and a chopper would your cat engine. All i saw was Trees coming bases where the province has placed highly approach. They materialized into two firefight take us out from there. We worked our Way Down in front of me and dived out of the Way As trained firefighters throughout Manitoba. Heyers with water packs on their backs and nozzles along the Shoreline and soon emerged into a you went past he called for help but his Monitor the Forest fire situation with aircraft in their hands their faces blackened by soot As Small Clearing that contained a pile of tents two Way radio want transmitting. And initial attack teams Are quickly lifted into Athey walked past then disappeared again into groceries and other gear but no other people. We knew we were in a very bad situation. Start zone. They Are usually very successful inthe smoke. Later i accidentally ran Over a fire Albert suggested we Cook ourselves a meal suddenly a Small spotter plane called a Bird dog putting Down a new fire sometimes with the Aid Hose and Felt bad when two More had to emerge while waiting for our ride out. When the Heli appeared overhead and soon water tankers of a nearby water Tanker. Out of the Haze to replace it. Copter arrived the Pilot informed us that the were diving in one after another to hit the fire my Favourite place at these bases is the Din on another Day All four dozers were building fire had changed direction and the Crew that All around us. It was a Beautiful sight and a ing room where Cooks May feed Over 100 Mena wide fireguard for the Back Burn team to Light was supposed to Camp Here had been evacuated. Great Relief for us. I now know what a trapped and women during a fire. At the Pekusko attack a fire that would Burn towards the original con not knowing if we would return to Burnt up animal feels like with nowhere to run or base longtime Cooks Christine Barbeau Mau Flag ration thereby exhausting its source of machines we left them in the Centre of the escape. Reen cousins and Barb Finlay have witnessed fuel. A Young cow Moose ran out of the Bush Clearing. This was not a Good Day. After the tankers hit times when the Camp overflows when a big on onto the fireguard its hide Patchy and soul next morning an no told us that the change the fire for Over an hour we went Back to work. Breaks out. Just outside their windows As Man Dering from the fire. A passing helicopter Pilot of wind meant it was no longer Safe to put in pushing up downed Trees can be dangerous As i As eight helicopters May Park overnight. These saw the animals predicament and dropped fireguard from our position. No problem soon found out. Something caught the Corner of ladies sometimes Cook for 25 Days straight with water on her but the weight of the water Flat Ballantyne said. We can go All morning i my Eye and i quickly stopped the Dozer. Not a out a Day off. Tend the Moose. Everything appeared to stand did my Best to follow the pros ribbons marked second too soon. On my left Side a broken tree with another hot summer just about Over the still As we stopped what we were doing and along the fires Edge. I went ahead and knocked had found its Way past my Dozer Blade and was people of Manitoba owe these workers a big watched and hoped the animal would find its Down Trees while Ballantyne followed and Only six inches from impaling me. An hour later thank you for their often perilous work. Legs and get up but she had endured too much pushed the Trees away from the fires path. A similar tree went through the dozers Radiator. Smoke heat and fire and succumbed to her with a Forest fire the worst part of the Day is that put me out of commission until a Mechanic Don Sandberg is the aboriginal policy fellow for injuries. Early afternoon. Until then the fire Burns along could be flown in. The Frontier Centre for Public policy we continued along and soon came to a Bay slowly and we could work fairly close to it but Days later we worked our Way out to the . He spends his Summers working still iced Over in Jun even though the Lake then it gets really hot. On that Day the pros Highway where we were to Knock Down Bush on for Manitoba conservation. Yoga for Tow truck Drivers and soldiers by eve Conant y Oga magazines Seldom fail to offer a Glossy dive into the sandalwood scented world of downward facing dog poses toned bodies and organic Cotton tank tops. But the August edition of fit yoga Magazine is an exception. Turn to Page 6 and you la see a pair of mildly euphoric . Naval aviators on the deck of an aircraft Carrier doing their yoga practice in full uniform. There Are no yoga Mats Only com Bat boots survival flashlights and helmets. And yes they Are doing the Warrior pose. Yogis sneaking into the military. According to fit yoga and the associated press yoga is increasingly popular among soldiers eager to improve their stamina flexibility and mental focus. Conventional Wisdom has it that War and yoga Don to mix. There a a reason Hollywood has never bankrolled titles such As yoga is hell full Metal stretch pants or the Bridge pose on the River kwai. But maybe its time to reconsider. Being from the camouflage free zone known As Berkeley calif., i witnessed my first yoga poses before i could walk. But my strongest memories Are of High school when my Stepmother and i would Sun Salute our Way through the Raquel Welch yoga video. Raquel in her skimpy Leotard was encouraging. She seemed to reach through the screen to Tell me that my braces permed hair and shoulder acne would soon be obliterated by my total radiance. Better skin might not be a lofty aim and per haps this is a Good time to admit i own a not very spiritual video titled yoga butt you gotta try it. Its easy to snicker at the holier than thou $20-a?class yoga Heads who drive sums in route to Nir Vana. But most people myself included leave a yoga session genuinely wanting to be a better per son. So i cannot help but proselytize. I believe Large sectors of american society including soldiers could Benefit from the ancient hindu tradition and should not be left out in the Kund Alini deprived cold. For the uninitiated Kund Alini is the Energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine and is said to be activated by yoga yoga could really help predatory Tow truck Dri vers maybe they could Start with something familiar like the Locust pose. Or debt collectors especially that woman on the phone who kept hounding my mom about the Victoria a secret Bra she had returned. In particular id like to sign up some of the folks at my health insurance company who chirp ily insist that a medical procedure that costs $500 anywhere in the modern world is really Only Worth $75, and that Sall they re going Back with your arms clutching your Knees ? but feels much nicer. Yoga is hip and not a moment too Energy just Drizi gift away. Thought yogic salvation awaited the dinner dialling telemarketers and phone throwing celebrities in our midst. She intrigued by the Chal Lenge and convinced that yoga might help them she said approach their work with More Loving teens should be sentenced to mandatory yoga too the better to lower the toxic Levels of Hor Mones and negative parental energies in their bloodstream. Film director David Lynch has taken up that cause albeit in a More tender form. The brain behind twin peaks and Mulholland drive has created a foundation dedicated to bring ing free transcendental meditation instruction to inner City schools. To is even supposed to improve sat scores. Many people have a kid a spouse or other dear pest who has tried perhaps unsuccessfully to con Vert them to yoga practice. And Here comes the pitch again during your quiet moment with the ;