Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (June 07/02) - With hot spots in northern Alberta and a slow start to the fire season in the Deh Cho, local firefighters have been sent south.

Twenty firefighters from Fort Simpson whose experience ranges from two to 15 seasons, participated in a brief refresher course on Thursday before boarding a plane for Lac La Biche, by way of Yellowknife, on Friday. "I'm feeling good about it and looking forward to it," firefighter Conrad Cazon said of his deployment.

Last year, Cazon and many of his colleagues were either sent to either Timmins or Sudbury, Ont. to help battle blazes. The summer prior, several Deh Cho firefighters lent a hand in Idaho and Montana.

This year they are among 11 crews from across the NWT -- including one five-member team from Fort Providence -- to be dispatched to Alberta. They are expected to return about mid-month.

The NWT is part of a Canadian Mutual Aid Resource Sharing (MARS) agreement, which means firefighting personnel can be imported or exported based on the level of demand.

The four Fort Simpson crews had reported for their seasonal positions on May 21, as did their counterparts in Fort Liard. Crews in Trout Lake and Wrigley reported for duty on May 27.

Loyal Letcher, Deh Cho forest manager, said the fire season in the Deh Cho has been delayed by cool temperatures.

"This is the way I like it, raining and cool, not hot and dry," said Letcher, who noted that 1998 was the last year with more than an average number of fires.

However, as of last week, there had already been two human-caused fires reported in the Fort Liard and Wrigley areas.

"We encourage all campers to please extinguish their camp fires," he said.