La Salle house fire causes $500K in damage

Fire Chief Mike Siemens said a homeowner was tending to burning leaves in his backyard Wednesday afternoon when the flames from the fire caught on to his deck. (Source: Glenn Pismenny/CTV News)

A house fire in La Salle, Man. has caused around half a million dollars in damage, according to the R.M. of Macdonald Fire Department.

Fire Chief Mike Siemens said a homeowner was trying to spot-kill a dandelion with a heat source in his backyard Wednesday afternoon when the flames spread to the deck, and then to the house.

The homeowner, an adult man, received burns to his upper body.

Siemens said the fire is not suspicious in nature. He said the wind was a contributing factor to the fire spreading like it did.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story reported that residents in La Salle don’t need a permit to burn leaves. However, within the RM of Macdonald, outdoor fires must be contained in firepits. According to bylaws, the burning of garbage, recyclables, household waste, lawn clippings, leaves, brush or tree prunings or any other compostable material is prohibited.