Winnipeg, MB – Over the weekend, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to a number of wildland fires, including significant ones on Murdock Road and in the Assiniboine Forest.
Crews were on scene at the Murdock Road fire for approximately 10 hours and required evacuation of two homes due to smoke. The Assiniboine Forest fire event lasted 18 hours and required the evacuation of a number of households along the forest edge due to direct fire threat. In total, 210 WFPS members were used to fight these two fires.
“This was an incredibly busy and exhausting weekend for WFPS crews. These two wildland fires stretched our fire and paramedic resources very thinly, for a very prolonged period,” said Chief John Lane, WFPS. “All of the wildland fires over the weekend are believed to be caused by human activity such as careless burning or careless disposal of smokers’ materials. We need Winnipeggers to exercise caution in dry conditions to ensure they aren’t the cause of these dangerous and damaging fires.”
Once again, WFPS reminds residents it is absolutely imperative they exercise extreme caution when doing any sort of burning. When winds 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 not dispose of smokers’ materials on the ground near any sort of vegetation. Butts should also never be thrown from a vehicle window.
In addition to the fires reported over throughout the weekend, WFPS crews fought a number of additional wildland fires over the past day including:
Oscar Paulson Park fire
At approximately 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, WFPS crews responded to reports of a small brush fire in Oscar Paulson Park in Charleswood. Upon arrival on scene, the fire had been extinguished by area homeowners. WFPS crews ensured all hotspots were extinguished before clearing the scene.
Perimeter and Brady Road fire
At 1:55 p.m. on June 2, WFPS crews responded to reports of a grass fire near the intersection of the Perimeter and Brady Road. Crews worked quickly in order to contain and extinguish the fire before it spread.
Tufnell Drive fire
At 6:04 p.m. on June 2, WFPS crews responded to reports of a brush fire on Tufnell Drive. Upon arrival on scene the fire was starting to spread. Crews worked quickly to stop the spread and ensure it was extinguished.
Bondar Bay fire
At 9:02 a.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019, WFPS crews responded to reports of a brush fire near a playground on Bondar Bay. It was quickly extinguished before it had the chance to spread.