Remembering the Matheson Fire - A Family Story
The whims of a fire cannot be explained. It can climb the highest peaks, rip the blue from the sky, spread in a reddish glow, swelling, whistling - good God it can leap onto anything that lives, jump from shore to shore, plunge into ravines soggy with water, devour peatlands, but leave a cow grazing in a circle of grass. What is there to understand? Fire, when it achieves this power, obeys no one but itself.
- And the Birds Rained Down, Jocelyne Saucier; trans. Rhonda Mullins
Bob and Maggie knew they didn't have much time. The fire was raging toward them from the other side of the lake and it was big. And a small lake is no match for a forest fire. The fire jumps from shore to shore with its searing heat like nothing is in the way.
The fire was almost upon them, the smoke had turned day into night and they could hear the roar. No cars. No telephone. No first responders to airlift them out.
They argued with their neighbours who planned to hide in the cellar of their home. But to no avail. They parted ways with their neighbours; Bob and Maggie headed for the lake. They waded in up to their chests and Bob told Maggie to get ready to hold her breath and go under the water when he gave the word.
Robert and Margaret Fyfe
It was 1916 and my great uncle Bob and great aunt Maggie, (Robert and Margaret Fyfe), brother and sister, were recent immigrants from Scotland. They were at Bob's cabin by a lake near Matheson in northern Ontario. And little did they know at the time, that they had found themselves in the middle of what would become one of the greatest natural disasters in Canadian history.
[caption id="attachment_3249" align="alignright" width="275"]
Courtesy of the Iroquois Chamber of Commerce[/caption]
Imagine a forest the size of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham and Pickering combined. 2000 square kilometres - 490,000 acres. Imagine that forest being completely destroyed along with the settlements of Porquis Junction, Iroquois Falls, Kelso, Matheson and Nushka, while also damaging Homer, Montieth and Cochrane. A fire with a front wider than 60 km. Now imagine yourself in the middle of the woods watching and hearing that fire racing toward you at 40 to 60 km/hr.
What do you do?
Bob and Maggie headed for the lake. And in chest high water, Bob waited until the last moment to give the word as the fire leapt across the lake. They went under the water and held their breath as long as they could stand it while the fire passed over their heads. Maggie came up first, then Bob. Maggie's eyes were scorched by the smoke and burning sap and she was blind. But they survived.
The neighbours who hid in their cellar all perished. In all, 223 people lost their lives in the Great Fire of 1916, the worst in Canadian history. That was the official death toll - some estimates were much higher
July 29, 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Matheson fire. 2016 will also be remembered for the Fort McMurray fire.
Our heart goes out to all of those affected by the fires, and to the firefighters and other first responders on the front lines throughout Canada. From Bob and Maggie to all of those affected by recent fires, we salute your courage and your resilience.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
In case of forest fire, follow the instructions given by authorities, contact your insurer when you are able to, and stay safe
Make sure you have an emergency kit at your home
Call your insurer to make sure you have the right coverage for your needs
Prepare an inventory list of your home’s contents and keep it in a secure off-site location such as a safety deposit box.
Our Author: Andrew Darbyshire
Manager, Corporate Personal Lines
belairdirect
Andrew has been part of the belairdirect family since 1998. Prior to his current position as a manager for Corporate Personal Lines, Andrew held a number of roles within Intact Financial Corporation. He has been a sales trainer and worked in the Underwriting department as an underwriter, team leader and manager.
