Farewell salute

Man in a baseball cap smiles, lake and hillside in background.

1. Don Champion

When remembering the Fire of ’98, the most emotional memory for me was when the Martin Mars Bombers left our community. They started up, circled the Salmon Arm Bay, picked up a load of water from the lake, and flew up the Valley to the site of the fire. The bombers circled back to the lake and dumped their load back in Shuswap Lake again, and flew off.

18 men stand on shore in front of a float aeroplane.

2. The crew of the Hawaii Martin Mars Air tanker readies to leave Salmon Arm.

This was a salute to the community. It meant the fire was out.

Don Champion, resident

Photo credit in order of appearance:
1. Anne Champion, c. 2010
2. Sally Scales, Shopper’s Guide, c. 1998

It was like a war zone! Changing the way the Fire Chief thinks