Former firefighter staying behind as Lynn Lake threatened by wildfire

A former firefighter in Manitoba is giving on the ground updates as a wildfire encroaches on his community.

Mervin Dale, a 71-year-old former firefighter in Lynn Lake, is planning to stay in the community, even though residents have been told to evacuate.

“There’s very high anxiety,” Dale said, noting evacuated residents have been asking him for information.

Dale has been posting live updates on Facebook, in addition to feeding and providing water to pets who have been left behind.

Dale said there are a few essential workers in the town to keep the water plant going. Sprinklers have been installed in an attempt to save homes.

“I still remain confident that the resources will be able to keep any loss down to a bare minimum, and I’m basing that on the fact that we have in here some of the very best that resources has to offer in terms of administration,” he said.

Dale said the fire is expected to breach the community near the hospital, and the graveyard is being threatened by the fire.

The fire in Lynn Lake has been burning since May 7 and is out-of-control. According to Manitoba’s Fire Map, it is 10,000 hectares in size.