By Brenda Heikkinen
I have been on Gun Lake for 28 years. I was pregnant with my second son when I bought the cabin. My kids and their friends have enjoyed every summer and some winters at my cabin. It’s so much fun to have them all coming back as young adults. Such special times and memories.
AUGUST 1, 2023 ALL TAKEN AWAY😞
I had been at the Lake for 5 weeks and taken videos of the water bombers on July 13,14,15. The fire was on the west side of Mount Penrose 6000 ft high from Gun Lake. WHY DID THEY NOT PUT IT OUT THEN??
I had to leave on July 29 for work, coming back on August 2, 2023. The fire was still on the other side of Penrose. Before I left 3 structure protection personnel came to my cabin and advised me they would bring in a pump and sprinklers to my property if needed. THIS NEVER HAPPENED.
I found out August 2 from a close friend, with a picture, nothing left but burnt debris. Sickening, devastating.
I was planning on retiring from my job of 42 years.
Now……Cost and Government hoops to jump through just to clean up this mess.
—- Hazardous material testing (cabin from the 70s).
—- Environmental assessments
—- Surveys
—- Danger tree removal
—- Debris removal
$70,000.00 just to clean up?
I have no power poles, no water pump, not even an out house. Not sure where to begin. I am truly grateful to all the people who have reached out and continue to offer support. Before and after pictures of my happy place.
Brenda Heikkinen
Gun Lake Road West.
Oh Brenda I am so sorry to read your story. I’ve thought of you and the boys many times, but didn’t know how to get in touch with you.
So devastating, when all you have left at this time of your life is the memories which I hope for the most part are happy ones.
Thank you for posting your story. I know how gut wrenching this is. Vicki Marlatt
So very sorry for this horrible experience. I always loved your lovely little rustic cabin and loved that it was well used. 😩
Brenda, our heart is with you, this is a caring and compassionate community, our heart breaks when we see our neighbours and what is left of such important memories. We grieve with you…
Hi Brenda,
As a person who has spent much time on Gun Lake since 1950, and who also lost our home which my Father built in 1970-80 on property he purchased in 1957 we are living this horror story along with you. I retired here in Dec. 2010 & have been living my childhood dream here until Aug. 18, 2023. At age 76, with a modest pension & under-insured as most of us were, it will be a struggle to rebuild. While I have always worked to protect the environment & believed in appropriate regulation I now find we must deal with a harsh bureaucracy that protects its own self-interests no matter what the cost to those they are supposed to serve. I recently watch a great movie about an elderly couple in New Brunswick who had similar struggles with bureaucracy. Very inspirational! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2073086/