A forest fire continues to burn at Caddy Lake.

Earl Simmons is Regional Field Supervisor for Manitoba Sustainable Development in the Eastern region. He says the fire broke out Sunday afternoon around 4:30. The province dispatched its five water bombers out of Gimli, as well as two that were assisting from Kenora.

"It was a real struggle for the water bombers to contain the fire from growing in size," says Simmons. "The fire was raging out of control given the dry conditions and the high temperatures and winds."

According to Simmons, the fire is about 38 hectares in size and he says because of how dry it is, they are very fortunate that no valuables have been lost. The fire came right up to the doorstep of the provincial fish hatchery but water bombers were able to prevent the fire from torching any buildings.

A conservation officer has investigated and has determined the fire was caused by a tree on a hydro line that started sparking. With the dry, windy conditions, Simmons says the fire quickly got away.

"The fire is not out," warns Simmons. "Our crews have worked diligently through the night to get around it and they are almost around it."

He says they are monitoring the area on a regular basis with helicopters and will use water bombers again when necessary. The fire is burning adjacent to Provincial Road 312, which runs off Highway 44 into Ingolf, Ontario. PR 312 is closed at this time. There have also been evacuations at McDougal's Landing, Caddy Lake blocks 5,6 and 7, as well as Big Island and Big Island Landing.

"We want to make sure everyone's safe," stresses Simmons. "So we are escorting people through to Ingolf and back out if need be. Otherwise, that area is closed for our firefighting efforts."

He says no cottages are in immediate danger. They have also not had to put sprinklers on any cottages just yet.

Simmons says the South Whiteshell Fire Department out of West Hawk Lake has been extremely helpful.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Sustainable Development is reporting crews were able to contain a forest fire that broke out Sunday in the Rural Municipality of Piney.

Simmons says it started between South Junction and Sprague. The fire grew to about 50 hectares in size but Simmons says because all of their water bombers were being used at Caddy Lake Sunday, they could not relocate them or they would have lost the Caddy fire.

Simmons notes no structures were lost in the Piney fire. The cause remains under investigation. Simmons says he doesn't recall such extreme dry conditions in May since the late 1980's.