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CaringforOurPeopleCaringforOurPeopleEnvironmentWildres7TuesdayAugust262014ByDONJAQUEMorainePointLodgeabeautifuleco-tourismdesti-nationonthenorthshoreofGreatSlaveLakewasburnedtothegroundbywildrelastweekleavingtheownersinastateofshock.Itsa100percentlosseverysinglebuildingre-ducedtoapileofrubblesaidRodneyKennyoneofthelodgeowners.Heandhismotherbusi-nesspartnersinthelodgeewtherebyoatplaneyes-terdaytocheckoutthedam-ageafterbeinginformedthatrehadhitthebuildings.Themainlogtwo-storeylodgetwootherlogaccom-modationbuildingsandveotheroutbuildingsareallgonehesaid.Kennysaidthe20solarpanelsthatwereonthemainbuildingliterallyexplodedsprayingglasseverywhere.ATVsskidoosandtobog-gansthatwerestoredweredestroyed.Theheatwassointenseitburnedrightdowntotherock.Thelodgewasonapenin-sulathatjutsoutintoGreatSlaveLakeonitswestshoreinsuchawaythattheyfeltprotectedfromtheBirchLakerecomplexeastofFortProvidenceKennysaid.Havingbeenbufferedbyacatguardtheythoughtitwassafe.Itwasaperfectfirebreaklocationconnectingthewaterononesideofthepointtotheother.FirstIwasshockedwhenIgotthecall.IcouldntbelieveitKennysaid.IaskedthemtosendmepicturestoconrmitandwhenIgotthemsureenough.ThemainrecampatBirchLakewasrightclose.Wehadevenofferedthere-ghterstouseourlodgeatnocharge.Wewerethemainvalueatriskinthatarea.Theystilltherejuttingoutintooneofthebiggestlakesintheworldwithincredibleviews.Wearehardworkinganddeterminedpeople.Eventhoughits100percentdestroyedwithsomehardworkanddetermina-tionwecouldbringitbackKennysaid.AdvertisingsolutionsBookdesignBrochurespostersBusinesscardsStationeryInvitationscustomdesignLogodesignMarketingsolutionsPhotographyPromomaterialSignsBannersStickersMagnetsWeddingPartyfavoursContactCascadeGraphicsat867872-3000orgraphicsnorj.ca207McDougalRdFortSmithNTWeofferarangeofcustomdesignservicesthatincludecascadegraphicsWildfiredestroyseco-tourismlodgeOwnersshockedcatguardandbackburncouldnotsavebuildingsdidabackburnandevery-thingacontrolledburntoseparatethepeninsulausinganoldrebreakfrom30yearsago.Wewerewatch-ingtheremapsdailyandthewind.Howitspossibleiswhatsshocking.Kennysaidthelodgeanditslocationwerespectacular.Everypersonwhoevercameouttherefellinlovewithit.Theyhadbroughtinpro-fessionallogbuildersfromB.C.toconstructthelodgeandotherbuildingsalldonewithselectedtreesfromthesurroundingforestandmetalroofs.Kennysaidtheoldgrowthborealforestonthepointwasspectacularwithtreesover100yearsold.Becauseofthewindsprayoffthelaketherewasalsouniquevegetation.Itwaslikeatropicalrainforest.Biologistswhocametherewerefascinatedwiththevegetation.Thetreesweresomassivewithhugetrunkstheforestsooldsomajestic.Thepointjuttedoutintothelake.Itwasabeautifulawe-inspiringsetting.Thelodgewasregisteredfor27guestsbutKennysaiditwasroomywithaccommodationsinthemainlodgeandtwoout-buildingsthatcouldhaveheldmore.Theyofferedshinghikingbirdingandwildlifewatchingaswellascanoeingandseakayakingplussnow-shoeingcross-countryskiingandsnowmobilinginwinter.WeareinsuchastateofshockitisunbelievablesaidMaryOBrienKennysmother.Wearesodistraught.Theonebitofgoodnewsisthatthelodgewasinsured.Nowtheyhavetodecidewhattodonext.Thebuildingsaregone.Theforestisgone.ButthepointisPhotoscourtesyofRodneyKennyBeforeandafterphotosshowtheextentofthedestructionatMorainePointLodgeonGreatSlaveLakewherealleightbuildingsandtheircontentswereravagedbywildrelastweekdespiterebreakscreatedtoprotecttheeco-tourismdestination.