Winnipeg Police Service responded to a domestic dispute around 12:35 pm on February 22, 2023, in the 700 block of Dufferin Avenue. Police say that an adult male had assaulted an adult female relative.

Officers say that the male was armed with a knife and agitated when they found him inside the home. He then fled to a different room and barricaded himself inside.

The Tactical Support Team were called in and they safely evacuated the other people in the home, including small children.

Over the next few hours, the male broke several windows and armed with various weapons he began throwing things at the officers. At one point the male threatened to kill police and charged at officers with a knife before going back inside.

At some point during the incident, the male allegedly set fire to the home and it was quickly engulfed in flames.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called in and staged nearby until it was safe to fight the fire.

Around 5:25 pm the male opened the door and was laying on the floor calling for help. Officers saw he no longer had the knife and rushed in to pull the man to safety. The man was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital in unstable condition. He was later upgraded to stable and released.

The 31-year-old male was charged for his alleged involvement with Arson with Disregard for Human Life, Assault, Possession of a Weapon and Fail to Comply with Condition of Release Order. He was detained in custody.

Once the male had been removed, firefighters launched an offensive attack inside the home and the fire was declared under control at 6:14 pm.

Several hours later, around 9:45 pm, firefighters were called back to the home to once again extinguish a fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.