Four Winkler, Man., men have been charged with manslaughter in connection with a fire last week that killed a man and caused $1.8 million in damages.
The charges stem from a fire that police believe was intentionally set April 18 at a field near Winkler where Ecusta Fibres was refining flax straw bales for export to the United States.
The fire’s intense heat triggered what police described as a fire funnel, a twister large enough to lift and toss a pick-up truck carrying three people.
One of those people, Irvin Harder, 63, of Winkler, died from injuries caused by the mishap.
Charged with manslaughter are Johan Peters, 21, Jacob Peters, 20, Heinrich Goertzen, 28 and Tobias Klassen, 20.
Police said April 24 that further charges are expected as the investigation unfolds.
The RCMP said the suspects were not employees or former employees of Ecusta Fibres.
All four men were known to police prior to last week’s fire.
Photos and further details of the fire are published on page 74. The charges were laid after that section had gone to press.
