The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
When I was told to look out my office window last Friday, I had no idea how serious the cloud of black smoke I saw in the distance would prove. Now a week after the demolition of the Ribs Restaurant and Northern Rainbow's End, it still seems so strange to drive by the northeast corner of Main Street and see a field of splintered wood and charred remnants. The blaze was a devastating yet captivating spectacle. Dozens of people lined nearby streets and sidewalks, not quite believing their eyes as one of the oldest buildings on Main Street Ð indeed in all of Flin Flon Ð turned to rubble. In the face of the awesome force of this inferno, firefighters from the Flin Flon and HBMS fire departments performed admirably. After seeing them in action once again, I know I left the scene feeling safer. For me, the unsung hero of the afternoon was Jim Bensen. From the seat of a durable backhoe, Jim clawed his way through the inferno at a remarkable pace, helping to spare neighbouring structures from a fiery fate. It was unbelievable how close he got to the belly of the beast. I won't be the only one surprised if some sort of formal recognition doesn't come his way. For Main Street, last Friday marked the latest in a long line of devastating fires that have fallen numerous buildings, including hotels and offices. I extend a sincere pat on the back to the firefighters and others who so valiantly brought this fire to an end. And of course sympathies go out to the business owners and employees affected. This truly was a tragedy. Still, we as a community have a lot to be grateful for. There were, after all, no injuries. As well, this inferno could have easily spread down the block, growing fiercer as it gobbled up storefront after storefront. Even the Fire Hall was vulnerable, and goodness knows what could have happened from there. As for Main Street, it will rebound as it always has. One More Thing... As reported a few weeks back, the military has a feature on its website that allows Canadians to send messages of support to our troops in Afghanistan. Considering the enormous sacrifices made by these brave men and women, the least we can do is send them an electronic pat on the back. Take a moment this weekend to log onto www.forces.gc.ca and click on the "Write to the Troops" option on the left-hand side of your screen. Until next week. Local Angle runs Fridays.
