The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is asking members of the public to get out of the way when it comes to water bombers.
With more than more than 60 forest fires burning across the northeast, forest firefighters (with assistance from fire crews from Saskatchewan, Albert, B.C., Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Mexico) have their hands full try to contain the fires and prevent them from spreading to populated areas.
The Municipality of Killarney (not the village) has declared a state of emergency for residents near the Parry Sound 33 fire zone, in the Key River-Henvey Inlet First Nation area, both of which have been evacuated.
With so many fires to fight, water bombers are active in areas across the region, wherever fires are burning. To be most effective, the bombers must scoop water from a source as near to the fire as possible to keep a steady stream of water falling.
For this reason, the MNRF is reminding the public that if they’re on the water and they see water bombers circling overhead to stay clear.
The bombers need to scoop water from the surface of a waterbody. If there are boats on the water that are in the way, however, the bombers can’t pick up water, and will have to find another lake, potentially farther from the fire.
This slows down firefighting efforts and makes them less efficient.
MNR is asking boaters that if they’re on the water and they see a water bomber approaching to get to shore as quickly as possible to clear space for the bombers to scoop.
