A family enjoying their long weekend at a camp on Manitoulin Island near Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory sprang into action when they spotted smoke rising from across the bay over the weekend, preventing what could have become a much larger wildfire.
Nicole Jacko and her relatives were relaxing at their camp on Aug. 2 when they noticed the smoke. She told CTV News that without hesitation, the family decided to intervene.
“We’re all just looking at each other like, well, we can’t just, we can’t just leave it, you know what I mean?” Jacko said.
“So, we jumped in the kayak and we just went over there. Everyone grabbed buckets.”
2-hour bucket brigade
Jacko and two cousins braved the smoke and heat for more than two hours, forming a chain to pour buckets of water on the burning tree.
“It was a long time, but we didn’t stop.”
— Nicole Jacko, she and he family battle a wildfire with just buckets
“We’re yelling across the bay at my family to, like, keep calling fire because we were kind of worried that we wouldn’t be able to get it out,” said Jacko.
“The tree was so hot. We were burning ourselves trying to put water in it – like it was crazy.”
The family said its primary concern was protecting the nearby community from the kind of destructive wildfires seen elsewhere this season.
“Our motivation was to save the island essentially,” Jacko said.
“It’s such a small community (and) where it was, close to … my reserve, Wiikwemkoong and with all the wildfires happening, we couldn’t let this get out of control if there was something we could do before the fire came."
Community praise
Members of the community and beyond have praised Jacko and her family for their bravery on social media. Jacko said the family appreciates the support online, as the effort was exhausting, but added it had to be done.
“We were scared for sure.”
— Nicole Jacko, she and he family battle a wildfire with just buckets
The family said it grew increasingly anxious as they waited for professional firefighters to arrive.
“We didn’t know when fire was coming or anything because it’s a far camp,” said Jacko.
“To get out there by car, it’s a rough ride. So, we didn’t know if a helicopter was coming. We would stop and look and see if we could hear a helicopter like we were,” Jacko said.
Officials respond
The family said three local fire officials arrived on scene with a drone to scan for heat signatures after the family’s efforts, before Ministry of Natural Resources personnel arrived and removed the tree.
The MNR did confirm the 0.1-hectare fire with CTV News.
“We received a call from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation Fire Chief and we responded to the fire,” said Evan Lizzot, an MNR fire information officer, adding the blaze was called out that afternoon.
Jacko said the family found a tackle box, fishing rod and small grills next to the smouldering tree.
Fire officials have not confirmed how the fire started.
