Wildfire fears halt burn permits in Manitoba, prompt burn bans

Wildfire fears have prompted the province to stop issuing burn permits, while the number of rural municipalities with burn bans in place continues to grow.

Provincial officials said Monday no new burning permits would be issued for central and eastern parts of Manitoba, as well as some areas in western Manitoba.

Dry conditions, increasing winds and above average temperatures are pushing up the risk of wildfires, officials said.

Campfires in enclosed pits are still allowed for now, but from the United States border to Gypsumville and Berens River in the north and the Ontario border in the east, no new permits for fires will be issued.

Meanwhile, the RM of Brokenhead, which includes Tyndall, Garson and Henryville, is dealing with extremely dry conditionsand joined the list of areas with acomplete ban on fires on Monday.

People are prohibited from setting fires within the municipal boundary until further notice, and RM officials are asking people to be careful when using machinery, ATVs or power tools.

Anyone with questions can contact the RM office at 204-268-6700.

Burn bans are also in place in the RMs of Grahamdale, Fisher, Coldwell, Ritchot, Tache, Montcalm, Stanley and Oak Lake.

RM hoping to lift ban before May long weekend

Peter Skjaerlund is the fire chief in the RM of Tache and said the area has been without rain for two weeks.

"Two weeks ago, we had a grass fire, and we also had a brush fire," he said. "There was no building loss. It was getting close to houses, but our guys managed to get it under control and put it out."

Skjaerlund said the community needs rain and for the grass to green up.

"It has to get a greener otherwise we can't lift the ban," he said. "We're hoping to lift it by May long weekend, which is three weeks away."