'It was nuts': Manitoba reservist back from fighting Saskatchewan fires

A Manitoba reservist is back in the province after fighting wildfires in Saskatchewan – an experience 12 years in the making.

Keith Griffith was seven years old and living in the Okanagan Valley in 2003 when wildfires ripped through the area, destroying homes and prompting evacuations.

Griffith watched soldiers arrive and help people get out – something he knew he wanted to do when he got older.

Now, he's 19, back in Manitoba and has helped families escape from La Ronge, Sask.

"I would describe it life changing in a way -- knowing that I lived through that," he said. "I know what evacuation and all that feels like, and seeing the community basically almost being destroyed because of the fire that was coming at them -- life changing. That's how I'd describe it."

At points, Griffith and his brigade were fighting fires 60 metres high.

"Fighting the fires using all the hoses and putting all the hotspots and all that, that was very risky I found, and I found it I guess, very adrenalin rushing," he said. "It's not like fighting a fire getting out of hand in your back yard -- this is flames 200 feet high."

Griffith was one of 1,000 Canadian military members who were deployed to help fight the fires in July. He saw homes evacuated, smoke pouring out of burnt homes and communities banding together to help evacuees.

"There was a whole wall of flames at one point. We also had fire fighters fighting side by side at one point," he said. "It was nuts because every time a helicopter dropped a bucket of water 150 trees went down because they were so burnt."

Griffith's commander, Col. Geoff Abthorpe, called Griffith "one proud reservist."

"That's amazing, you know? Knowing that he mentioned me. That was – wow. I'm very, very honoured," said Griffith.