Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responds to grass fire near Centreport Canada Way and the Perimeter Highway

Winnipeg, MB – At 4:04 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2023, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a vehicle fire near Centreport Canada Way and the Perimeter Highway.

When crews arrived on scene, they found that the fire had spread from the vehicle to the nearby grass and hay bales. Due to high winds, the grass fire spread rapidly, covering an area roughly the size of two football fields.

Extra crews were dispatched. Using specialized equipment, including a WFPS Bison, they contained and extinguished the fire. Water tankers were used to shuttle water to the scene as the fire. No injuries were reported.

While this grassfire was sparked by a vehicle fire, WFPS expects the number of grass and wildland fires to increase over the coming weeks.

As the ground dries out, WFPS reminds residents to exercise extreme caution when doing any sort of burning. When wind speeds exceed 25 kilometers per hour, all open-air fires, including those in approved fire pits, are prohibited. Even if a resident has obtained a burning permit, fires are not permitted under these conditions.

Residents should never dispose of smoking materials in any sort of vegetation or from vehicle windows. Butts should also never be put out in planter pots.