Fire sweeps through English Bay but homes saved

A group of people in English Bay watched a fire sweep through their community on Sunday night from the water.But the homeowners were prepared.

"We got some people into the boats, we watched it go by, it was just wild," said Nolan McKay. "The fire was about a good hundred feet above the trees, right behind our fireline where we had the sprinklers set up.It was something I had never seen in my life."

McKay, his family and neighbours, about 15 people in total,had been soaking and sprinkling the area aroundeight homes in a row onthe lake. They hoped the fires would skirtthis "dome of humidity". Their work paid off and the homes were saved.

McKaywatched the fire from the garage until it got too close and he had to get in hisboat.He said itwas a frightening experience. "I was shaking for three hours afterwards."

After the fire went passed, he came back to land, started puttingout ground firesand assessing the damage.

"You walk 20 feet in the bush and everything is gone, it's just charred."

Fire crews were by on Monday to continue to put down ground fires.

McKay says the risk of more fire is still there.

"It looks like it wants to get everything."

English Bay is located roughly 20 kilometres north of La Ronge.