A spokesperson for Manitoba Sustainable Development says the fire burning out of control in the Rural Municipality of Piney has not grown since Monday.

Earl Simmons says because of the cool, humid conditions Tuesday, the fire remains 4,700 hectares in size. It is still three kilometres from Badger and Simmons says the fire is not a threat to that community at this time.

The province is utilizing 12 crews consisting of approximately 50 firefighters. With the help of four caterpillars on the fire line, Simmons says they are making good progress.

According to Simmons, they sent out a helicopter with a scanner early Wednesday morning in order to see if any of the edges of the fire had dried out and to help determine where best to place crews.

"Yes, some of them have died off," says Simmons.

Wednesday will not be a critical day. Simmons says that is because the winds are not expected to be as erratic as they have been earlier this week. He is hoping for some rain overnight, noting Thursday's forecast for a very warm and windy day is a concern and could pose challenges.

There have been no buildings lost in this fire and still no evacuations. Simmons says burn bans remain in effect for the entire eastern region and there are also travel restrictions in place on crown land.

Simmons says they haven't used water bombers since Monday. That is because, though the fire is still burning out of control, it is not acting in such a way where water bombers would be beneficial. Simmons explains water bombers prevent a fire from escaping its size, they do not actually put a fire out. He notes because the fire is not up in the treetops where it can jump from one tree to another, it is more beneficial to have crews on the ground soaking the land.

Should they use water bombers later this week, Simmons anticipates they will now be able to scoop water from Whitemouth Lake. Until now, water bombers have been flying to Seven Sisters and other bodies of water in the Whiteshell because of ice still in Whitemouth Lake.