Cigarette probably started bush fire: police
Cigarette probably started bush fire: police
23 April 2007
published by www.thesudburystar.com
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada — A cigarette thrown from a car is suspected to have caused a bush fire that forced the closure of a highway on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, Espanola OPP officers, officials with the Ministry of Natural Resources and local volunteer firefighters from Whitefish Falls responded to a fire on Highway 6 at Widgawa Road South in Mongowin Township.
“Due to high winds and dry bush, the fire ignited quickly and consumed approximately two acres of bush to the east of Highway 6 at Widgawa Road,” OPP officials reported.
MNR water bombers were called in as the fire had spread onto the west side of the intersection.
Police closed the highway at 2:30 p.m. due to heavy smoke.
No detour was available to motorists. At 3:50 p.m., one lane was re-opened and at 5:05 p.m., Highway 6 was re-opened to traffic in both directions.
Although the fire was extinguished, MNR crews stayed on scene until 9 p.m. and were expected to return Monday.
Another 12 bush fires occurred across Greater Sudbury over the weekend due to dry conditions.
Greater Sudbury Fire Services predicted a rise in bush fires until the area receives more rainfall.