Garth Asham, Deputy Reeve and Councillor for Ward 1 in the RM of Portage la Prairie, is urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution with fire-related activities in the St. Ambroise area. Recent preventable blazes have raised concerns about risks to the region’s critical hunting and fishing economy.
Economic stakes and fire risks
“We’ve had a couple of fires up in the St. Ambroise area lately that we feel could be avoided,” Asham says.
While the origins remain unclear, he stresses human error may be a factor.
“If the origin is related to human cause or human error, people should be a little more careful.”
The area’s hunting lodges and outfitters drive its fall economy, employing guides, cleaners, and local workers.
“If we ever lost one or two of these lodges to careless fires, it would be devastating,” he adds.
Annual challenges and enforcement
Asham notes fire prevention is an “annual problem” requiring proactive education.
“People like to clean up their yards, but you should have a plan in place,” he says.
Uncontrolled burns in dry marshland risk overwhelming limited local resources.
“If you’re caught being careless or deliberately setting a fire, there’s a huge fine, and you will be prosecuted for it,” he continues.
Past prosecutions have occurred, and authorities like the RCMP and fire department are frequently mobilized.
Recent incidents and resource strain
Though recent rainfall temporarily reduced fire activity, Asham warns against complacency.
“A fire can get away on you pretty fast with a little wind,” he says.
Last week, crews spent six to eight hours battling two blazes.
“They’re out there doing that when they could be responding to emergencies elsewhere,” he adds.
St. Ambroise’s limited water access complicates containment efforts.
Call for community vigilance
Asham credits moisture for the current reprieve but urges ongoing caution.
“We hope to get awareness out there that please do not start fires carelessly,” he says.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity and prioritize fire safety.
“It’s not hard to find the source of the problem when humans do something,” he notes.