By François Biber

Vigilant cabin owner saves neighbour’s vacant cabins

Jul 14, 2015 | 6:04 PM

A light shower is restoring faith for cabin owners in Nemeiben Lake who say the worst is behind them.

“It’s getting better … mostly everything is burnt so there’s not much left,” said Bill Elliot, one of three remaining residents who decided to stick around, while the majority of residents left.

“We have embers hitting us, but (it’s) nothing much, we have our own sprinkler system.”

The sprinkler systems, Elliot said, is what saved the 22 cabins in the area and while 90 per cent sit vacant, Elliot and one of his neighbours spend half their time shuttling fuel and making sure those cabins are safe.

“Grant and I are delivering fuel to the pumps and we’re actually doing about 80 gallons a day delivering on the lake. We’re on a sea-doo and we’re whipping around delivering the fuel to cabins that are being threatened (by), or on fire,” Elliot said, adding it takes about 10 to 12 hours to make all their deliveries.

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Elliot said fuel is being flown in by Saskatchewan Environment Resource Management (SERM) working with Shell.

For the most part the sprinklers are keeping the fires away, but two cabins have been lost to wildfires. Elliot said without sprinklers, at least 15 more cabins would’ve burnt.

With nearly of hour of rain over Nemeiben Lake on Tuesday, Elliot is sure the worst is behind him. But depending on which way the wind blows, smoky conditions from a week ago could return.

“The smoke isn’t too bad right now, but there were times when the only way we could get around was with a GPS. You couldn’t see and the smoke burns your eyes so bad,” he said. “It’s definitely an experience we’ll never forget, that’s for sure.”

fbiber@rawlco.com

Follow on Twitter: @Notthebeebs

by François Biber

Vigilant cabin owner saves neighbour’s vacant cabins

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