Steinbach RCMP are investigating two arson incidents in the Mitchell area Sunday morning.

The Hanover Fire Department says the Kleefeld Fire Department was called to a structure first just northwest of Mitchell around 6:30 A.M. Police say a shed was lit on fire and burned to the ground near the intersection of Road 30E and Randolph Road.

Two miles north on Road 39N, RCMP says a bridge was also set on fire just before 7 A.M. Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says the bridge fire was the first fire call for the brand new Blumenort Hall.

"The bridge fire, they were there for just less than four hours. Those bridge fires, they are often difficult to extinguish as those timbers can stay smoldering for quite some time. Our crews have applied a lot of water and foam and that usually is the way to extinguish those."

Wiebe says it is nice that the first call for the Blumenort Fire Hall was not too stressful.

Although most of the bridge is still standing, police say it is a total loss. Wiebe says the bridge is closed to all traffic until repairs can be done.

Both fires are considered suspicious and are under investigation. If you have any information in regarding either of these fires you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at (204) 326-4452 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.manitobacrimestoppers.com