‘It had been there forever and ever’: Fire tower removed from Manitoba community

A fire tower in the Manitoba community of Woodridge has been demolished, and residents say it leaves a hole in the community. Daniel Halmarson reports.

There aren’t too many landmarks in the town of Woodridge, Man.

So when the historic fire tower that loomed over the southeastern Manitoba community was abruptly removed earlier this month, residents were outraged.

“All of a sudden you could hear, ‘bang, bang, bang,’ and they’re just tearing it down,” resident Louann Hora told CTV News Tuesday. “And people are like, ‘What’s going on?’ No notice at all.”

Hora and her husband Russ Rudy live across PR210 from where the fire tower once stood. She said it was an attraction for residents, visitors and outdoor enthusiasts.

“People would go there, take pictures, have a picnic down below it. Kids would love it,” Hora said. “It had been there forever and ever… and it’s gone.”

For decades, the lookout tower was used to spot wildfires in Sandilands Provincial Forests until 2010 when new fire detection technology took over.

According to the Manitoba Historical Society, the Woodridge tower was one of the last still standing in the province.

“They had taken down all of the other towers,” Ken Prociw, Ward 1 Councillor for the RM of Piney, told CTV News. “We were under the impression they’d likely leave it, but I’m assuming it’s likely liability is what made their decision.”

In an email, a provincial spokesperson said the fire tower was demolished on Nov. 12 due to safety concerns raised about people climbing the structure in an unsafe manner.

Prociw said that did happen from time to time.

“About a month ago is when I passed by and there was a young couple here and they were climbing on the tower,” Prociw said.

However, he said the province should have consulted Woodridge residents or provided public notice before deciding to tear the tower down.

Louann Hora said that would have given people a chance to say goodbye to the beloved landmark.