A fire Wednesday afternoon four miles south of Steinbach was started by a wood-fired smoker. Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says it was accidental. The fire caused a small barn to burn down and it then spread to neighbouring brush. Firefighters from Kleefeld, Grunthal, New Bothwell and Steinbach were called in to extinguish the flames. Wiebe says the small barn was not insured so there is no damage estimate.

Meanwhile, the La Broquerie Fire Department was called to two brush fires last night, one shortly after 9:00 p.m. along Highway #210 to the north and the other an hour later along PR 302 to the south. Chief Alain Nadeau says they were able to quickly contain the fires.

The provincial government has cancelled all burning permits in eastern and central regions of the province. This is in addition to municipal burning bans throughout our region. Manitoba Sustainable Development says no burning permits will be issued until the tinder-dry conditions improve.