Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded fire in at a College Avenue apartment building early Thursday morning, June 2, 2022.
When crews arrived just before 4;00 am they found an outside fire that had extended to the apartment block impacting two of the three floors.
The outside fire was quickly extinguished and the crew launched an offensive attack on the fire that had moved to the building. The fire was declared under control at 4:39 am.
About a dozen occupants of the building had evacuated the building before firefighters arrived on the scene. No injuries were reported.
Officials believe that the fire was an opportunistic arson. Debris near the building was set on fire which the moved to the structure.
These types of fires can be reduced by following a few tips:
- Clean up potential combustible items around your yard. Fire can spread to buildings and other structures quickly, so keep yard waste and bulky items like furniture away from your home, garage, and fence.
- If you have bulky waste items like furniture and appliances, call 311 and the City will remove bulky items for a fee.
- Garbage is a frequent target for set fires. Consider placing your garbage and recycling bins out the morning of collection.
- Store flammable material safely.
- Keep shrubs and trees near buildings trimmed and watered and ensure they are regularly cleared of dead plant matter.
- Use motion-activated lights to brighten the outside of your home or garage.
- Do not extinguish cigars or cigarettes in potted plants. Potting soil and peat moss can be combustible.
- Develop a home escape plan and practice it regularly with your family. If a fire occurs, this will help you be prepared to escape as quickly as possible.
© News4.ca 2022
