Slave Lake Fires- Thank god for vapers!

[Danesnpits]

I got an email from my dad today with a photo my brother took from his water bomber plane of Slave Lake, Alberta. My brother was one of the first on scene and has been flying long hours to try save the town. It has been destroyed. There are wild fires burning all over Alberta right now, and people have been evacuated from Slave Lake. BC and Ontario has sent in firefighters to help fight on the ground. One of the clips I saw on the news, had a lady who lit up a cigarette and my mind and heart just dropped. Cigarette smokers can cause forest fires of this nature just by throwing out their butts. I am so glad to know we have an awesome vaping community, whom is responsible, and the fact we don't have to worry about throwing out our butts causing huge devastations of this nature. Those days for us are over! I am praying for the people in Slave Lake and my brother. All the water bomber pilots have been working extremely long hours, working round the clock and the ground crews on foot have been too. Please pray for the pilots, ground crews and the people of Slave Lake. UGH..I still cringe at that lady lighting up a smoke during the video!Video: B.C. sends firefighters to battle Slave Lake fire - The Globe and Mail

Here is a photo my brother took while flying with his water bomber plane. It's not that clear but you can see to the top right of the picture, that it's all black. Everything is gone. Houses once stood there, and they are gone. It is just so devastating.

 

[cactusgirl]

Wow....how very sad.

 

[boomboom]

Here's the map of the destroyed homes/businesses

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Province+maps+extent+Slave+Lake+damage/4811766/story.html

 

[Pipeous]

it's scary. we see aftermath but what happens during is really scary. my bud lives in lilooett and I was seeing the fires there through his webcam. it was just across the river and went way north (dam pine beetles)... they were a long ways really from the hill that was burning but when the choppers dropped water, these guys had burning logs landing in their yard, I guess from the explosion of steam...

those poor people

 

[Danesnpits]

it's scary. we see aftermath but what happens during is really scary. my bud lives in lilooett and I was seeing the fires there through his webcam. it was just across the river and went way north (dam pine beetles)... they were a long ways really from the hill that was burning but when the choppers dropped water, these guys had burning logs landing in their yard, I guess from the explosion of steam...

those poor people

That is scary! My brother being a water bomber pilot was explaining to my dad that he cant drop the water near the town because the weight and force could kill people as well as destroy buildings. It really is a sad situation and just makes me mad that alot of these fires are caused from irresponsible campers and smokers. And to think I was once a smoker. The forest animals will all be dead too. That makes me even more sad. And all those people that lost their homes and buisnesses. Even the cop shop and school were burnt to the ground there.

 

[Pipeous]

I can hardly imagine the ride your brother must be getting too. the updrafts after they drop the water must make for a chilling ride. they do a really tough job. thank your brother for what he does. he risks his life and deserves props.

 

[Chime]

Sad to see a community raised like that for sure.

I'm just glad 8 years ago those guys saved my summer spot, Sorrento, and I'll tell ya one thing there's no experience that quite compares to seein the Mars Martin load up in the lake to go give a giant middle finger to mother nature, balls of steel those guys had, took em most of the lake just to lift that big ol bird up.

Fortunately last year Conair's Air Tractors (really cool planes to see up close too despite the name) were enough, and with luck will be this year too.

 

[Danesnpits]

I can hardly imagine the ride your brother must be getting too. the updrafts after they drop the water must make for a chilling ride. they do a really tough job. thank your brother for what he does. he risks his life and deserves props.

Thanks Pipeous! Will do! Yes my mom is concerned, well we all are. He went for training to fly these things in seattle, as he was an avionics instructor and flew twin engine planes for medivac in Peace River. He wanted more excitement I guess. But the concern is what you say it is. It is downright dangerous, and there have been pilots killed in this line of job. He is divorced now, his wife couldn't handle the job either. But he loves it. Our dad taught aerodynamics in air cadets and sending my brother through the course, it's no wonder we have a pilot in the family. My mom flew in one of the planes once that my brother flies, as a surprise mothers day gift, and she said he flies like the wind. So I guess all we can do now is pray for him, the other pilots, ground crews and the people who lost everything in this fire. It truly is heart wrenching. I heard this fire is so bad it's going down in the history books.

 

[inkedcanadian]

I heard a male helicopter pilot died helping fight these fires today... so sad

 

[Danesnpits]

I heard a male helicopter pilot died helping fight these fires today... so sad

OMG you are kidding me! Do you have a link online to see inked? Ya my mom said that my brothers planes are high risk due to somthing along the lines of when they drop the water, and some sort of weird backdraft type effect, not exactly sure what happens just that I know its dangerous.