Gusty winds Wednesday created some challenging conditions for the Walpole Island Fire Department.
Walpole Island Fire Chief Bob Smith said volunteer firefighters tackled several marsh fires in the River Road South area.
"Yesterday alone from roughly 1:30 in the afternoon until 10:30 at night we had about five marsh fires," said Smith. "They were all wind driven so the wind pushed those marsh fires to be a lot larger than they normally are."
The exact cause of the fires is undetermined.
"We can't confirm that they're man made but there were no lightning strikes yesterday, so from where these fires started too it's kind of only vehicle access from what we could tell."
Smith reminds residents to be mindful of the wind direction and how dry it is when conducting controlled burns, or call the fire department.
"If they are afraid for phragmites, marsh weed or prairie grass around their house, then they are more than free to call us to help do what we call a back burn or controlled burn, and that will help eliminate the fire coming close to their residence," he said. "We have the skills, the knowledge and the know how of how to conduct a burn in windy conditions."
Smith also reminds residents to be mindful of where you discard of your cigarette butts.
Members of the Walpole Island Fire Department have responded to over a dozen marsh fires in the last two weeks.
