Selkirk industrial fire deemed arson

A massive fire at Mandak Industries near Selkirk, Man., over the weekend was deliberately set, Manitoba's fire commissioner has announced.

The blaze started at the company's metal scrap yard on Saturday, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Nine rural fire departments, as well as the provincial water bomber fleet, battled the fire well into Sunday morning.

Local fire officials said the burn area was almost half a kilometre long and 30 metres across.

While the Office of the Fire Commissioner has determined the Mandak fire to be an act of arson, it ruled that two weekend fires in the Rural Municipality of Springfield were set by accident.

The first, located on Stoneridge Road, was sparked by the improper use of an extension cord, officials said.

Another fire near Anola, Man., on Briercliff and Corbett Road, was started when heat from the muffler of a riding lawnmower ignited the dry grass beneath it.