WINNIPEG, MB. - At 7:23 p.m. on June 6, 2021, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to a large wildland fire south of Wilkes Avenue and west of Liberty Street. It was estimated to cover an area of approximately 30 acres. With wind speeds gusting to over 45km/h, the fire was at serious risk of further spread.
Crews used specialized wildland-urban interface equipment, including the WFPS Bison, to attack the fire and protect the surrounding areas and properties, including 10 homes to the west of the fire. The WFPS drone played in invaluable role in the firefighting efforts, providing aerial views of the area and detecting hot spots.
WFPS water tankers were used to shuttle water to the scene, as the fire was outside the City of Winnipeg water district.
The WFPS would like to thank the residents in the area for their co-operation and in particular, one resident who used their Bobcat to cut a fire break in the brush to stop the fire from spreading towards the nearby properties.
The fire was declared under control at 10:15 p.m. Crews will remain on scene for the next several hours ensuring all hotspots are extinguished.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time. No injuries were reported.