Winnipeg, MB – At 4:25 p.m. on June 4, 2019, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to reports of a large grass fire just south of the Perimeter Highway. Once on scene, crews found the fire was quickly spreading with the wind and quickly worked to protect nearby structures. They estimated the fire extended approximately a half kilometer west of St Mary’s Road between Paul’s Boulevard and Forbes Road
Outside of Winnipeg’s water district, crews used the WFPS tanker truck and shuttled water using fire hydrants inside the Perimeter. Aided by specialized wildland firefighting equipment and the WFPS drone, they declared the fire under control at 5:53 p.m. Crews will remain on scene well into the evening, ensuring all hotspots are extinguished.
While the cause of this fire is not known at this time, it is believed to be from human activity. Once again, WFPS reminds residents it is absolutely imperative they 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 not dispose of smokers’ materials on the ground near any sort of vegetation. Butts should also never be thrown from a vehicle window.