Wall of Fire in Nopiming Park Triggers Dramatic Helicopter Rescue

A wall of fire in Nopiming Park brought a terrifying and unexpected end to a backcountry camping trip for two Winnipeg friends and their young sons this week. What began as a peaceful escape into nature turned into a harrowing rescue mission, as wildfires fueled by lightning tore through the Manitoba wilderness.

A Camping Trip Turned Emergency

Eric Gauthier and Pascal Breton took their sons, Caleb and Remi, on a camping trip in Nopiming Provincial Park. They wanted to relive childhood memories and take a break from city life. At Garner Lake, they fished, barbecued, and soaked in the peace of nature. But on Monday, a lightning strike near Bird River sparked a wildfire that spread fast — and they had no idea.

By Tuesday, flames were racing across the forest.

Evacuation by Helicopter

While grilling steaks and enjoying their catch of the day, the group spotted a helicopter approaching their campsite. At first, residents thought officials were responding to an open-fire violation. But authorities were actually there to evacuate people from an area now directly in the path of a major blaze. Conservation officers, alerted by a friend who knew the group’s camping plans, managed to locate the campers and quickly move them to safety.

“It was just a wall of fire from the time they picked us up all the way back to Lac du Bonnet,” said Pascal Breton. His six-year-old son, Remi, described the sky as red and said the sun looked “weird” as they flew above the flames.The experience left a lasting impact on the group — especially on Gauthier, who called Nopiming “our special place.”

Nopiming Wildfire Now Over 100,000 Hectares

As of Saturday, the Nopiming wildfire remains out of control, having scorched over 100,000 hectares of land. Fire officials say that recent rainfall has helped, but the situation remains volatile. Emergency crews continue to work in “protection mode,” prioritizing structures and cabins.

Breton and Gauthier’s friend lost their entire cabin at Beresford Lake, and both men lost their trucks in the fire.

“All that’s left is the wood stove,” Gauthier said. “Everything else is pulverized.”

Grateful but Heartbroken

Despite the loss, both fathers say they’re immensely grateful to their friend, the rescue teams, and the wildland firefighters working around the clock.

“Always tell someone where you’re going when you’re camping,” Gauthier stressed.

Breton added, “We are eternally grateful — the people who helped get us out are heroes.”

How do you think provincial parks can improve emergency alerts for backcountry campers?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/nopiming-provincial-park-wildfire-camping-trip-1.7538109
• https://uk.news.yahoo.com/manitoba-battling-16-wildfires-friday-012633551.html
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/nopiming-provincial-park-wildfire-1.7537753