Crews battling big wildfire around Gunn Road

Fire crews were battling a large wildfire around Gunn Road in north Transcona on Monday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in an email that the fire is threatening structures in the 600 block of Gunn and the nearby area.

“Residents are not being asked to evacuate at this time,” the City of Winnipeg said on social media, as of 3:15 p.m.

“All evacuations are for commercial buildings, and firefighters are working with people in those buildings directly. Residents in the area should stay in their homes at this time.

Residents were advised to avoid the area.

Passersby stopped at the end of Wabasha Street, near Larche Crescent, to watch the plumes of smoke from the fire.

The billowing black smoke could be seen from as far away as downtown.

Firefighters were sent to the area shortly after 2 p.m.

The City of Winnipeg said on social media at 2:45 p.m. that Gunn Road is closed to traffic between Plessis Road and Redonda Street.

Manitoba Hydro said in a social-media post that more than 1,200 customers are without power so that firefighters can safely battle the blaze. The public utility estimated on its website that power would be out until shortly after 6 p.m.