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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
More fires blaze as RCMP urge caution
Firefighters battle a large fire near Selkirk on Saturday. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
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Grass caught fire like gas and blacked hundreds of acres in the RM of Springfield over the weekend.
One empty home and two barns were burned to the ground, an occupied home was damaged and firefighters were trying to save a third home as one fire after another turned tall, brittle grass to flaming fields.
By Sunday afternoon, exhausted firefighters in the rural municipality east of the city hadn’t sleep since Friday. One firefighter had suffered minor smoke inhalation and was sent home on bed rest.
There were no other injuries.
Other RMs and towns in southern Manitoba also reported fires.
Even with showers in the forecast, authorities cautioned against lighting fires to burn off stubble or debris in fields for the second time this weekend.
"The RCMP would like to remind the public of the danger of grass fires and the threat they can pose to life and property," Sgt. Line Karpish said Sunday.
Selkirk fire department Chief Dan Thorsteinson reported Sunday that a dramatic blaze in Selkirk was finally out.
Selkirk firefighters called in water bombers Saturday evening and called on help from neighbouring RM volunteer fire departments to quell a flaming field Saturday.
Acrid plumes of smoke were reported as far away as Stonewall and the Nairn Avenue overpass in Winnipeg.
The field belonged to Mandak Metal Processors and was used to store car parts and salvaged vehicles.
RCMP said with grass fires claiming the life of a Portage la Prairie-area farmer, the public needs to be careful.
John Froese, 78, was a farmer, husband and father who followed his faith in church and in life.
He died on Thursday after a grass fire on his land got out of control and trapped him in a shed on his property.
History
Updated on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 3:31 PM CDT: Updates with Sunday fires
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