A fire that threatened Channing on Saturday is under investigation.

Fire Chief Jim Petrie says the fire started in the bush near the Ski Lodge and was the second fire there within half an hour.  He says the first fire was completely put out and the second is considered suspicious.

Petrie says the fire took off quickly because of the tinder dry conditions and high winds hitting the heavy area of pine trees which burned quickly and continued on.  He says the ashes caused several spot fires in Channing which were quickly put out by the fire fighters on the scene. 

He adds Darren Romo was in charge and did an excellent job with the Flin Flon Fire Department assisted by the Hudbay and Creighton Fire Departments.  He says the helicopter with a water bucket fought the fire until the water bombers were able to make it in from another fire they were fighting elsewhere.  He says Resources crews stayed on location overnight and Sunday assisted by the helicopter in fighting flare ups.

Petrie says without the excellent work of all the fire fighters half of Channing could have been lost and it’s a reminder of the dangers of living in a community so closely surrounded by forest.