One sure sign that summer is on its way out is the annual Helitac demonstration at Paint Lake Provincial Park - this year's edition of which took place Aug. 21.
"We had a really good turnout," said senior park interpreter Misty Belcourt, who estimated the crowd at around 150. "The kids were really excited," she added, noting that many of them became "deputy fire rangers" after learning about wildfire safety from Smokey the Bear. At the end of the weekend, all the kids received goodie bags.
Those in attendance were wowed at the sight of wildland initial attack firefighters demonstrating the Helitac technique, in which fire crews drop out of a helicopter in order to fight fires from the ground. The Helitac is regularly used in remote areas and forests, where it is impossible for fire crews to access the area by land. "It helps them to get a sense of how they would fight fires on the ground," explained Belcourt.
"They're the ones who are keeping all the fires at bay," Belcourt said. "It's something we can't always see because they're in the middle of nowhere."
A popular feature of the firefighting demonstration in past years has been the use of the Bambi bucket, a bucket which can hold up to 300 gallons of water - as much as a backyard swimming pool - and is emptied out onto fires from the air.
The Bambi bucket was not on display this year. According to Belcourt, the culprit here was the government - "you can only have so many air shows," she explained, noting that because the Bambi bucket had been used at Paint Lake so many years in a row, they were not allowed to display it again in 2010. Belcourt is hopeful that the Bambi bucket will make a return to the Paint Lake Helitac demo in future years.
To make up for the lack of a Bambi bucket, park goers were given the opportunity to enter the Helitac helicopter, take a look around, and see firsthand what the helicopter looks like from the inside. Other weekend activities included a guided hike of Coffee Cove Trail and rock painting.
Paint Lake wraps up its season this coming weekend, with a "Look to the Skies" theme - activities related to birds, butterflies, and stars. "Sunday will be craft day, and we'll be making butterfly magnets and mobiles," Belcourt said. Other activities will include a chance to learn about bird migration - where they go, when and why - and stargazing at night.
This summer, Paint Lake offered free activities every weekend from mid-June to the end of August, each with a different theme. Themes included Canada Day, a celebration of Manitoba Parks' 50th anniversary, boreal forests, and stinky animals.
This is the last year for free entrance to Paint Lake and other provincial parks. A two-year program of free admission was introduced in 2009 to provide opportunities for Manitobans to seek outdoor recreation close to home under a difficult economic climate. Park passes will once again be required for 2011.
