Two families sprang into action in Manning Park this weekend, when a small-but-potentially-devastating fire was spotted.

The wildfire scare was on Aug. 16, and the parkB次元官网网址檚 marketing manager Robyn Barker says it offered a stark reminder to stay fire smart. The fire was discovered near Flash Lake, she says, B次元官网网址渂ut thanks to the dedicated actions of two families of hikers, the fire was extinguished.B次元官网网址�

A young family with a five year old and seven year old were on their very first overnight backpacking trip, to Strike Lake along the Lightning Lakes chain, when the dad saw smoke near the shoreline of Flash Lake. He knew it was an area not permitted for camping or having a fire, and decided to investigate.

But first, the man messaged some co-workers via an InReach GPS satellite communicator, asking them to report the smoke.

B次元官网网址淪omething didnB次元官网网址檛 sit right with me and I decided to hike around the lake while my family took a snack break,B次元官网网址� says the man, identified only as Rick.

When he checked it out, he found a five-square metre area that was smouldering and on fire. Rick returned to his family and they all began to help put it out. Being an avid hiker in Manning Park, he says, B次元官网网址淲e would not sit by to watch the beginning of a forest fire in one of our favourite places to hike.B次元官网网址�

After sending another emergency message, Rick cleared brush and trees to remove fuel, while his wife, Andra, hauled water from the lake about 5 m away.

B次元官网网址淢y two boys helped by poking at the extinguished areas and throwing small branches and undergrowth into the lake,B次元官网网址� he says.

Barker says that with a dry forest and a concern about an increase in the winds, the fire had the potential to expand quickly, so they kept at it for two hours as a team.

Then, another family of three adults and five children happened along. They were Andrew and Paige Irwin, and their family were keen to assist in the efforts and jumped in to help.

B次元官网网址淲e continued to dump water on the fire with our Osprey Dry bags, about 10 litres at a time for about three hours and what I can best guess would have been over 1,500 litres of water,B次元官网网址� Rick says.

A Manning Park crew attended after hearing the call and found that the fire had been extinguished already and the hikers had moved on with their hike to Strike Lake.

A BC Wildfire crew also attended with a helicopter to put it out.

Park Area Manager, Andy Boul茅, tells the perspective from the Manning Park crew who attended.

B次元官网网址淲e mobilized a small team of four of us and started the hike in,B次元官网网址� Boul茅 says.

They arrived just before the helicopter, and just missed meeting the families who saved the day.

B次元官网网址淲e did a bit more digging and spraying to confirm the fire had no hot spots under the roots,B次元官网网址� Boul茅 adds. B次元官网网址淲hen the BC Wildfire crew got there, they confirmed as well.B次元官网网址�

Although Boul茅 and the BC Wildfire team didnB次元官网网址檛 meet the hikers, after posting about the scare on the Manning Park Resort Facebook page, the full story came from Rick.

Boul茅 expressed his thanks to everyone involved.

B次元官网网址淚t is obvious by your actions that you love the park, too, and I am proud to have such great stewards and friends of Manning out there helping! Thank you so much for your caring and effort!B次元官网网址�

In RickB次元官网网址檚 post, he commented how the whole family found it quite an adventure and they were glad that they were able to protect the park that they all love, but after all that hard work, they needed a vacation.

And so, theyB次元官网网址檙e getting one.

B次元官网网址淢anning Park Resort recognizes the incredible efforts made to protect the park from these two families,B次元官网网址� Barker says, and so they have offered both families another vacation to Manning Park Resort, with a night in one of the new premium cabins and their choice of boat rentals or ski lift tickets.

B次元官网网址淗opefully, this will be a vacation where they can relax,B次元官网网址� she adds.

Manning Park Resort is a four-season destination with full Resort amenities including a variety of accommodations, restaurant, pub, swimming pool, fitness centre, group facilities and outdoor recreation.

Located in EC Manning Provincial Park, which boasts over 300km of hiking and multi-purpose trails, the resort is 45 minutes east of Hope on Highway #3.