Local fire fighters have packed up their gear and are out east in the R.M. of Piney helping in the wildfire effort.
As of Thursday morning, the fire had reached 7,886 hectares in size and remained 3.5 kilometres away from the townsite of Woodridge. The fire is 1.3 kilometres away from the townsite of Badger.
Greg Zimmerman is Chief of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services and is also Coordinator for the Pembina Triangle Mutual Aid District, which responded to a request for assistance with a task force made up of fire fighters from departments across the region.
That includes a brush fire truck, ATVs and four fire fighters from Emerson-Franklin, five members from Altona/Rhineland responded with the department's pumper and tanker trucks, two fire fighters come out from St. Jean, the Winkler Fire Department contributed a pumper and a tanker along with seven fire fighters, and six members of the Morris Fire Department responded with one pumper truck.
As of early Thursday afternoon, Zimmerman says they were gearing up to deploy the pumpers out to a fire line. The plan - to set up a defensive position and work the fire from a road.
"We're just trying to keep the town of Woodridge from burning down," he explained.
Zimmerman noted, the unpredictability of wildfires is what makes this a challenge, adding the situation changes with the wind.
Heavy machinery and helicopter buckets are working non-stop building fire guards in the areas Manitoba Wildfire Services feels are necessary.
The reception centre is open for anyone who needs a place to spend the day. If lodging is needed, evacuees are asked to speak to the ladies at the reception centre or to call the RM office.
The Piney Hall Reception Centre contact number is 204-423-2332 and the RM of Piney office contact number is 204-437-2284.