Winnipeg grass fires keep emergency crews busy on blustery Easter Sunday

A popular ATV Trail in Manitoba was impacted by a brush fire on April 20, 2025. Source: Barry Kostchuk

Crews from multiple fire departments were on scene during a rather gusty Easter Sunday to put out two grass fires that broke out in and around the Winnipeg area.

Manitoba RCMP said flames broke out on Fermor Avenue near the Perimeter Highway just before 5 p.m.

All eastbound lanes of Highway 1 from Symington to Navin roads were shut down as the fire was extinguished by crews from a number of Manitoba fire departments.

The roadway reopened around 7 p.m.

Mounties say the fire is not criminal in nature.

About an hour later, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to a different grass fire near Sturgeon Road and Silver Avenue.

Crews used wildland fire equipment to extinguish it, including ATVs and a drone.

It was brought under control by 10 p.m. No injuries were reported.

The city said the fire is under investigation and a damage estimate is not yet available.

The WFPS reminded Winnipeggers about the risks of grass fires, particularly during dry and windy days like Sunday, when Environment and Climate Change Canada estimates southwesterly winds gusted up to 50 km/h in the city.

About 200 of these types of blazes break out within city limits every year, the city said, but these numbers increase when conditions are drier than normal.

The city reminded the public to take steps to protect their property, including by pruning vegetation and storing firewood at least 10 metres away from structures.

ATV bridge trail destroyed

A popular ATV Trail near Powerview-Pine Falls was also the site of a fire Sunday

The bridge on the Whistle Pig Rail Trail was burned during a fire in the area. The trail covers runs from East Selkirk, near Winnipeg northeast to Powerview-Pine Falls, covering 75 kms.

ATV rider Barry Kostchuk told CTV News Winnipeg that the fire burned out an ATV bridge on the trail about eight kms southwest of Powerview-Pine Falls, MB.

He said people should know they cannot continue to Powerview-Pine Falls before they take on the trail.

“It’s a long way to go expecting to gas up in Pine Falls and find out you can’t get there.” he said.

According to RCMP, a brush fire reignited, causing crews to return to extinguish it.

There are no indications the fire is criminal at this time, RCMP said.

- With files from CTV’s Kayla Rosen and Charles Lefebvre