Large grass fire west of Carberry, Man., believed to have been started by ATV, fire department says

Firefighters believea large grass fire that ignited west of Carberry, Man., and forced 30 families from their homes on Thursday was started by an all-terrain vehicle.

A fire broke out near Camp Hughes an old World War I military base in the Municipality of North Cypress-Langfordabout 170 kilometres west of WinnipegThursday afternoon. The Carberry NorthCypress-Langford Fire Department responded to the blaze, but several neighbouring fire departments were also called to help out.

The fire is now deemed under control, but the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department issued a news release Friday afternoon that provides a fuller picture of what occurred.

"Investigation is ongoing but we feel that this firewas started by an ATV," the release says. "With the extremely dryconditions, we highly recommend no off-roadtravel anywhere in the Municipality of North-Cypress Langford."

The Town of Carberry and the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford have been under a burn ban since March 19 due to dry conditions. All outdoor fires are prohibited and anyone caught violating the ban could be fined.

But shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday, the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department was called to a grass fire at Road 92 west and Road 59 north, near Camp Hughes and south of what is locally known as the Dane subdivision.

Brush fire threatens homes in western Manitoba

4 years ago

Duration 1:07

Firefighters work to put out a brush fire that forced the evacuation of some homes near Camp Hughes, west of Carberry, Man., Thursday evening (Video courtesy Liam Pattison).

A section of Highway 351,from Highway 5 to the west junction of the Trans-Canada Highway, was closed Thursday afternoon because of the fire. The Dane subdivisionislocated just off that strip of highway.

"Weassessed it as a fast-moving fire in high winds during a dry spring with tall grass (due to littlesnowfall this winter)," the fire department's release states.

"We immediately activated mutual aid and called multiple water trucks from local farmers and colonies, as well assequestering tractors, discs, and a scraper."

Movedquickly

The fire was moving fasterthan firefighters could douse it, however. It crossed aCanadian Pacific railway line and was moving north toward the Dane subdivision, threatening a number of homes, the release said.

Shortly before 5:45 p.m., Manitoba RCMP informed the public via social media about the grass fire and that an evacuation effort was underway. Police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigretold CBC News at the time that Mounties from the Blue Hills detachment were helping people living in the Dane subdivisionto evacuate their homes.

About 30 families were sent to register at the hockey rink in Carberry, Friday's release said. They were allowed to return to their homes around 8:30 p.m.

RCMPsaid on social media Thursday night that a house had burned down. In fact, a home received some damage to its siding because a nearby garden shed caught fire, according to Friday's release from the fire department. No homes were lost.

Fire crews respond to second fire Thursday evening

As the initial grass fire was beginning to die down, the Carberry North Cypress-Langford Fire Department received a call about a second fire that it is deeming as suspicious.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the fire department received the call about thesecond fire, which forced them to dispatch six fire trucks from the main scene.

"This second fire is deemed suspicious but was contained quickly," Friday's release says, adding that the fire trucks returned within 20 minutes.

Fire crews remained at the scene of the first fireuntil 11 p.m. Thursday to keep an eye on nearby homes while extinguishing small brush fires and hot spots, the release says.

The fire department returned to the scene at 6 a.m. Friday and continued monitoring throughout the day, putting out several hot spots, it says.

Given the current conditions in the area, the fire department suggests residents turn on all lawn sprinklers to start growing their grass, clean up debris around their homes, ensure gutters are clean and avoid piling wood on or near buildings, the release says.

The fire department is also advising the public to avoid visiting on-going emergency scenes in the future.

"Yesterday the smoke was so thick that it was difficult for first responders tosee, and the situation was made worse by extra traffic from bystanders who had no businessattending the scene," the release says.

No injuries have been reported, Manaigre of the Manitoba RCMPtold CBC News on Friday.