Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (June 17/02) - A small forest fire on the outskirts of Hay River caused some tense moments last week.

The fire burned about four to five hectares of forest and field on June 10 in the Paradise Gardens area, about 18 kilometres from downtown Hay River.

The blaze is believed to have been caused by the burning of a pile of brush by an area resident.

The fire was behind a number of houses in the rural area, but high winds were driving it away from the homes.

Some of the homeowners were concerned the wind might shift and blow the fire towards their houses. However, there was no evacuation of the area.

The response was intense to the fire. Firefighting aircraft and a helicopter from Hay River and Fort Smith, and fire crews from Hay River, the Hay River Reserve, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence and Kakisa fought the blaze.

Randy Buggins, the base manager with Evergreen Forestry, said the fire was considered contained as of Monday evening and under control as of Tuesday afternoon. The area was still being monitored as of Thursday.

Evergreen Forestry has the forest fire fighting contract for the Hay River area with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Buggins also notes the fire briefly jumped across the Hay River, and started a spot fire, which was quickly knocked down by a aircraft. Three firefighters also crossed the river to finish off the small fire.

Hay River Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Sibbeston Sr. said some homes were in danger from the fire. "It was starting up pretty good when we were there."

And he said the fire could have been much worse.

"The wind was blowing straight north," he added. "If the firefighting aircraft hadn't come when they did, it may have jumped the river and headed straight to Hay River."