Fire threatens properties near Steinbach

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This article was published 16/04/2015 (3296 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Various buildings but no occupied homes caught ablaze as local fire departments attempted to contain a grass fire southwest of Steinbach Friday afternoon.

The burning, influenced by high winds and dry conditions, began along Road 32E, about a mile and a half south of Highway 52, and followed the wind to the southeast, threatening a hobby farm and then an estimated six residences on the northern side of Road 34N.

Most land contained within that mile section escaped major damage, aside from the suspected burning of numerous outbuildings, said Kleefeld fire chief John Schroeder, except for three properties northwest of the intersection of roads 33E (Bush Farm Road) and 34N (Hanover Road).

A summer cabin on 34N near Road 33E was left to burn when the blaze became uncontrollable. A garage/shop on a neighbouring property, fronting Road 33E, was also a complete loss as were several scrap vehicles and a camper next to it.

Schroeder believes they would have saved the shop, along with the vintage vehicle inside, if they did not run out of water. Their tankers, usually hauling water, were needed today to fight structure fires.

The blaze also burned tires and other equipment at Pankratz Farms, farther north on 33E.

A vacant home about a quarter-mile east of Road 32E sustained fire damage as well, said Schroeder.

Schroeder said some Steinbach firefighters were stationed near Homestead Crescent, at the northeast corner of the section, to prevent the flames from infiltrating the various homes there. He said they were successful.

Firefighters from Steinbach, Kleefeld, Grunthal and New Bothwell attended the scene.

The RCMP said in a late afternoon media release approximately 15 homes were evacuated but everyone has been allowed home.

The fire was extinguished around 3:30 p.m.

Schroeder said Hanover’s fire departments took care of three major fires in the last few days, starting late Tuesday south of Sarto and a grass fire south of Mitchell on Wednesday. He said all blazes were comparably severe—on a scale of one to 10, these fires were an eight, he explained.

Fire crews were preparing to leave the site later in the afternoon. An investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing.

Updated: 6:18 p.m. Friday