The Steinbach Fire Department was called to a fire caused by a wood boiler a mile and a half east of Blumenort at around 3:20 Thursday afternoon.

Fire Chief Kel Toews says the call initially came down as a vehicle fire.

“You could see the thick black smoke for miles and when we got here it ended up being a pile of tires that was burning. The owner was using a wood boiler to heat his swimming pool. I guess the fire got hot and some sparks came through the chimney and ignited a pile of tires.”

Toews says nobody was hurt in the fire. He notes the property owner was able to move many of the tires out of the way and the fire department extinguished the fire shortly after they arrived.

“There was property damage but for the most part it was a pile of tires which I am not sure whether they were salvageable. I am not sure the state of the tires. The boiler will have to be replaced.”

Toews notes Giroux Fire Department assisted Steinbach by sending their water tanker. He reminds drivers to pull over to the right when you see a fire truck behind you because the fire trucks stay on the left side of the road. He adds they had some trouble getting through traffic on their way to the fire.