Chatham-Kent firefighters battled a brush fire for several hours on Thursday evening near the Walpole Island bridge.
Bob Davidson, assistant chief, told the Sydenham Current eight firefighters, two pumper trucks and one tanker truck attended the scene at Dufferin Avenue and Bluewater Line at around 4:05 p.m.
“Fire was in the vegetation on both sides of the road,” Davidson said.
“High wind conditions helped to spread the fire. Fire crews were on scene for several hours.”
Davidson said he did not believe this particular fire was a planned, controlled burn.
“Not that I am aware of,” he said.
Here are some videos of the fire:
Burning phragmites near #WalpoleIsland @ckfiredept pic.twitter.com/pgP6kZVaAo
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 23 March 2017
Up close, burning phragmites near #WalpoleIsland on the #ckont side @ckfiredept 🔥 pic.twitter.com/thEUSfNLvw
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 23 March 2017
@ckfiredept firefighters battling the flames near #WalpoleIsland 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sXe9H6Brg4
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 23 March 2017
The vegetation in the area are an invasive spices called phragmites.
Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program says phragmites damage Ontario’s biodiversity, wetlands and beaches.
Invasive Phragmites is a perennial grass that has been damaging ecosystems in Ontario for decades.
It is not clear how it was transported to North America from its native home in Eurasia.
Invasive Phragmites is an aggressive plant that spreads quickly and out-competes native species for water and nutrients.
It releases toxins from its roots into the soil to hinder the growth of and kill surrounding plants.
While it prefers areas of standing water, its roots can grow to extreme lengths, allowing it to survive in relatively dry areas.
The tall plants have went up in flames near Walpole Island in the past and is often an annual occurrence.
Here are some photos from 2014.
– Photo credit: Aaron Hall
