A grass fire in Transcona that spread to area businesses and sent large plumes of black smoke into the sky Monday afternoon is now under control.
The fire broke out in the 600 block of Gunn Road just after 2 p.m. yesterday.
Due to strong winds and extremely dry conditions, the grass fire quickly spread, moving towards a commercial and industrial area and leading to the evacuation of businesses in the area.
Firefighters from Winnipeg and the R.M. of Springfield used specialized wildland firefighting equipment to keep the fire from reaching the nearby residential area.
The warm weather also made it difficult for firefighters. Crews were rotated in and out to allow them time to rest and hydrate. Paramedics assessed two firefighters at the scene, but they did not require a trip to the hospital.
No other injuries were reported.
The fire was declared under control just after 5 p.m. However, crews remained on scene throughout the evening and early this morning to put out hotspots.
The WFPS is still assessing the area to determine how many structures were lost.
Over 30 WFPS crews were sent to the scene throughout the afternoon and into this evening to battle the large fire.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.