Winnipeg, MB – Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to a number of significant wildland fire incidents on Monday, May 7, and overnight on Tuesday, May 8, including:
Roblin Boulevard & Perimeter Highway
At approximately 17:19 on Monday, May 7, WFPS crews responded to a wildland fire in the area of Roblin Boulevard and the Perimeter Highway. No injuries reported, no damage to structures, and the cause is under investigation.
Victoria Row
At approximately 18:44 on Monday, May 7, WFPS crews responded to a grass fire on Victoria Row, near Harris Park. No injuries reported. A detached garage and its contents sustained damage. No damage estimate is available, and the cause is under investigation.
Day Street
At approximately 20:04 on Monday, May 7, WFPS crews responded to a grass fire near the intersection of Day Street and Gunn Road. Crews were aided by Winnipeg Police Service’s (WPS) Air-1 to aerially locate hotspots. While no damage to structures was reported, some of the area businesses were evacuated as a precaution. Winnipeg Police General Patrol members assisted with evacuating the nearby businesses. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation.
Whiteshell Avenue
At approximately 00:49 on Tuesday, May 8, WFPS crews responded to a wildland fire in the area of the Transcona Bioreserve. Crews were aided by Air-1 to aerially locate hotspots. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene. No damage to structures, no evacuations required, and the cause is under investigation.
Please note that all open-air fires are temporarily prohibited due to the extreme dry weather conditions in the Winnipeg area which increases the risk of dangerous fires, such as grass, brush, and wildfires. The ban will be lifted when environmental conditions improve.
“These are unprecedented, tinder dry conditions, and we urge members of the community to work with us and refrain from starting any open-air fires, even in approved receptacles such as fire pits,” said Tom Wallace, Deputy Chief of Support Services with WFPS. “Unless you’re using an outdoor natural gas appliance such as a barbecue, we urge you to not start an open-air fire as dry conditions and winds increase the risk of wildland fires.”
WFPS and WPS encourage all residents to be safe and also active in reporting suspicious or irresponsible behaviour by phoning 911. Do not approach active fire incidents – it is dangerous to do so, and you put yourself at great risk as conditions can rapidly change.