Stuartburn wildfire sparks provincial response

Provincial fire crews are helping local firefighters battle a new wildfire in the southeastern Manitoba municipality of Stuartburn.

The provincial fire commissioner's office and Manitoba Conservation were asked by municipal officials to help out with the fire, which started overnight and has grown to about 240 hectares (600 acres) in size.

Fire commissioner David Schafer told CBC News that provincial crews were called in after flames started getting close to some properties.

"There were various values threatened, various farm sites, et cetera," Schafer said late Thursday.

"From what I've been told so farif there were any losses, they were just small out buildings at this time; no significant losses."

Fire departments from La Broquerie, Vita, Piney and Dominion City are working with Manitoba Conservation fire crews on the ground. As well, a single-engine air tanker is dropping fire retardant in the area, according to officials.

The latest fire is being blamed on unseasonably warm and dry conditions in the region. Similar conditions last fall sparked grass and peat moss fires in the same area.

Up to 160 people were moved from the Stuartburn areamainly from the community of Sandilandsas fire crews battled the wildfires over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The warm weather lately has promptedSchafer's office to warn people to be cautious about fires and respect burning bans. The Rural Municipality of Stuartburn imposed a complete burn ban on March 6.