Fire in east Winnipeg exposed area that is 'ticking time bomb': city councillor

An area of east Winnipeg that was swept up in a grassfire on Monday is a ticking time bomb, according to Coun. Russ Wyatt.

Dozens of vehicles in an auto storage yard off Gunn Road, which divides Winnipeg and the rural municipality of Springfield, were destroyed by flames fuelled by high winds and dry conditions.

The fire, which started around 2 p.m., was contained around 5 p.m. but not before propane tanks in the Oluspe Autos and Parts yard exploded, nearby hydro transformers melted, and other businesses were damaged and evacuated.

The path of the blaze was marked Tuesday morning by blackened fields and a post-apocalyptic-looking mass of burned-out cars.

Wyatt did not yet have complete information on the losses but said it was fortunate no one was hurt.

The area has several industries and manufacturing plants, some using highly flammable materials, that might not be adequately protected.

"We have a lot of, I guess you would almost call them ticking time bombs," the councillor representing Transcona told CBC Manitoba Information Radio host Marcy Markusa.

"[In] the RM of Springfield … they do not have fire hydrants, they do not have a full-time paid fire services, it's volunteer."

Directly across Gunn from the auto yard — within the boundary of the RM — is a plant that produces a variety of chemicals and fertilizers.

"It was crucial that the fire be knocked down ASAP, and it was," Wyatt said. "It was quite a day."

He did not yet have complete information on the losses. The owner of Oluspe Autos and Parts did not want to comment.

Brian Seaton, fire chief in the RM of Springfield, took exception with Wyatt's suggestion that the municipality might not have proper protection for the industrial park.

He wanted it made clear the Springfield fire department was called to assist city crews, and water supplies that had been strategically set up by Seaton were used to fight the fire.

When he became chief three years ago, Seaton said, he approached several businesses and established water supplies at the businesses "because I know that's our biggest problem." 

"I won't give you companies names, but [there are] … a lot of companies within the industrial area that can supply me water."

The city's closest hydrants are on Redonda and Day streets, which bookend the block of Gunn that was burning. Those were too far away to hook up to, Seaton said.

Thanks to the his prior arrangements "we had more water than we can actually shake a stick at," he said.

The closest source of water couldn't be accessed because of the thick toxic smoke blanketing the business where it was located, so crews used the next nearest one, Seaton said.

"That's why I always have a backup to a backup plan. That's how we … controlled that situation."

The department recently added a new tanker for one its three fire stations "so that adds even more water supply," Seaton noted.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham also had no qualms about Springfield operating with volunteer firefighters. He said he grew up on a farm near Carman served by a volunteer fire department "that did outstanding work."

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Wyatt says much of the area is threaded by rail tracks and it's not uncommon for passing train wheels to send sparks into nearby dry grasses.

"In the past we've had issues. About 15 years ago we had a massive fire in the RM of Springfield that affected a plastics plant that was caused by sparks from a train," Wyatt said.

Fire near Balaban Place

Around 4:30 p.m. Monday a fire also erupted near Balaban Place, a residential area also in Wyatt's ward. Those flames spread across several acres and threatened homes before firefighters brought them under control.

The cause of that is also under investigation but "there is a very active rail line behind Balaban Place," Wyatt noted.

Gillingham didn't want to wade into the blame game with the cause of the blaze still unknown.

"When you've got dry conditions … there can be instances where sparks from a train or sparks from someone doing other work — could be welding or something — that could cause a fire," he said, underscoring the importance of the current fire ban. 

"I'd take the moment just to reiterate to all Winnipeggers at your home, at your workplace, recreation, whatever you're doing, please be very, very careful right now. Abide by and comply with all the rules set in place. It's a very, very dry time."

Wyatt had concerns with the Gunn Road area being overseen by two municipal governments, potentially causing issues when it comes to administering regulations.

"We've had real serious issues in the RM of Springfield … what we allow and really ensuring that we practise as much prevention as possible," he said. 

He's hoping Monday's incident can lead to improvements in the area, or at least some conversations about it.

"If we can determine the cause, we can hopefully prevent these things in the future from happening."

Gillingham said the city's CAO and fire crews are constantly in talks with neighbouring municipalities about situations like Monday's, where the emergency involves multiple administrations.

"There are partnership arrangements," he said. "It's not like we work in isolation. There is ongoing dialogue."