Darren Campbell
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 24/98) - Did it have to happen?

Kate Tompkins said that is what cottage owners along the Ingraham Trail are asking as a 60,000-hectare fire still burns around Tibbitt Lake.

The fire already has burned three cabins at Tibbitt Lake. On Tuesday, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs ordered all residents living north of Powder Point to evacuate the area.

Tompkins lives in a cottage year-round at Pickerel Lake. She said she knows those fighting the fires are working hard and can't fight every fire. But she said some owners are wondering why the fire at Tibbitt Lake was not attacked when it was first reported on July 6.

"There is going to be questions asked about that after this," said Tompkins. "They should have stopped it before they did. It (the fire) should never have gotten to cottage country."

Rick Seeley, who has a cottage at Tibbitt Lake, said his cottage is still standing because he has carried out proper fire prevention practices for the past 15 years. He said anyone wanting to keep their cottages should do the same.

"If not, you're going to lose the cottage," he said.

Seeley added that cottagers should not be critical of the government's firefighting efforts. He said they are doing the best they can and those living in cottage country know forest fires are a threat to their property.

"Nobody twisted their arms. It's by their choice that they live there," said Seeley of the cottage owners. "They are the same as us. If we had lost it (the cottage) it would have been our choice."