22°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Premier tours fire-ravaged Vita
A bridge just east of Vita collapsed after catching fire. Two wrecked cars were still smoking Wednesday morning after Tuesday's wild fire that destroyed the bridge. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Related Items
VITA — It’s an annual visit that Premier Greg Selinger would rather not make.
The premier flew in a helicopter over the Vita area Wednesday afternoon, as he did at the same time last year. In both instances, it was to inspect serious fire damage.
"This fire still needs active management," the premier told a news conference, referring to several areas in the RM of Stuartburn where crews continue to fight the fire that destroyed three homes in Vita Tuesday.
Selinger said provincial officials are on the scene to help residents in various ways, including applications to the Disaster Financial Assistance Fund.
Selinger said he appreciated the valiant effort of volunteers.
"I’m always impressed with the ways communities can mobilize," he said.
While about 60 volunteer firefighters worked to save Vita from a wildfire that destroyed the three houses, other community volunteers joined in to help in many ways.
The Vita Bible Centre supplied food and beverages as well as Tim Hortons. Steinbach Mennonite Church offered itself as a contact centre for evacuated residents and found billets for anyone in need.
Vita High School offered coffee, meeting rooms and phones.
Stuartburn Reeve Jim Swidersky said he has received many phone calls from people willing to help in any way they can.
History
Updated on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 3:24 PM CDT: updates
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 26 articles for today)
Community's children apprehended by province
1:00 AMAn Old Order Mennonite community in Manitoba has reportedly had all but one of their children apprehended by Child and ...
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Teen on train tracks from York Landing
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Filipino singer Charice comes out as lesbian; Catholic official says she's in identity crisis
- Heat wave hits Alaska, with temps topping 26 degrees in Anchorage
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Youths charged in fatal shooting of chief's grandson, 5, on Alberta reserve
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Only one workshop to be held on vacant land at The Forks
- Magellan signs MOU to produce F-35 tails
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Heat wave hits Alaska, with temps topping 26 degrees in Anchorage
- Rogers and MTS announce new network sharing agreement
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.