Originally Posted by Oldan Grumpi
Winter of 1965, northern Alberta, clearing an airstrip and some access road with a D8 working doubles and a D6 working days. Small crew of about 6 or 7 (including labourers), just a kitchen and a sleeper on wheels.
After supper, (D8 already out on night shift about a mile away), we came out of the kitchen to see a considerable fire down a cutline - about 90 degrees off from where the D8 was working. We were the only guys out there, not another soul for many miles except maybe a trapper.
I and a labourer jumped on the D6 and set off to investigate. After snowplowing and bucking willows and windfalls for a mile or so, we got into a bunch of old detours in a creek bottom. Suddenly the headlights began to flicker, sort of waver like a candle in the wind, and then they went out. We dug out a flashlight, and couldn't find anything wrong - but after a few minutes, they began to flicker again and came back on as per normal.
Once we got out of the creek bottom, the fire was nowhere to be seen. We plowed another half mile or so, but it was getting pretty late so finally gave up and went back to camp.
I the morning the D8 night shift guy came in and said we'd better check out the lights - he'd stopped to pour himself a coffee, and his lights did exactly what ours had done, and as near as we could figure, at the same time.
We then drove to nearby forestry tower (closed for the winter), climbed up to the cupola for a look around, and could see no smoke or evidence of a fire. Called the nearest airport to see if any aircraft were missing, but none were reported. Checked the nearest trappers cabin a few miles away (a guy we all knew) but it was fine, and snowed in.
During our snowplowing we did appear to be getting gradually closer, but the fire was still 'not close'. We were not chasing Venus; the fire rose and fell, and was obviously flames - the red/orange colour of a normal wood or fuel fire. It was right down the cutline, and never shifted left or right.
We all, except the D8 operator, saw the fire. After we left with the D6 the others went back inside (it was damn cold) and didn't see the fire 'disappear'. We never did figure out what it was.
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