Marcus MacDonald joins 'Helitack' to fight Alberta wildfires

A former New Brunswicker is among the firefighters battling 97 wildfires across northern Alberta.

As the hazard level remains steady at extreme, it is the first time in 10 days the number of fires has been below 100.

Marcus MacDonald, a wildland firefighter in High Level, Alta., has experienced the worst of the summer's fires.

MacDonald, who is originally from Tracy, said he has seen some incredibly intense fires since he started in April.

"We were two or three kilometres away and we could hear it burning towards us," he said.

MacDonald took position on the "Helitack" unit in High Level as a summer job.

The position requires the firefighters to wait beside their helicopter until dispatch assigns them.

Once in the air and on their way to an active burn site, MacDonald and his team assess the fire behaviour and determine whether a water drop is needed or if it can be fought from the ground.

The unit hit its peak number of dispatches last week when team of four responded to 80 new fires in a span of four days.

38 fires burning in High Level

MacDonald said it was unlike anything he had experienced before.

"It's the sheer number of fires that are burning right now and how big they are," he said.

"I've seen crazier fires but not all at the same time."

High Level has 38 fires burning with 19 considered out of control.

In situations such as this, Helitack will attach what the team calls a "belly bucket" onto the helicopter. The pilot will then pick up water from a nearby lake and dump it on the fires. 

Helicopter crews, such as Helitack, often work around towering flames.

"There was probably 100 feet to 150 feet of flame length over top of the canopy," MacDonald said.

"That was pretty amazing."

The fire situation has calmed down in the last couple of days, said MacDonald,

Crews are attributing this to the cooler temperatures and overcast conditions.

 A special air quality warning remains in effect in High Level and surrounding areas.