The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) had a busy morning on Friday, April 19, 2024, as they responded to two separate fires in the city.
The first incident occurred at 5:12 a.m. on Ross Avenue West. WFPS crews arrived at a vacant, boarded-up house in the 1400 block to find smoke billowing from the structure. Initially, a defensive fire attack was launched, with crews fighting the fire from outside. As conditions improved, they switched to an offensive strategy. By 6:07 a.m., the fire was declared under control.
During the operation, residents from a neighbouring home were evacuated as a precaution. They were able to return to their home once the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported. However, the fire caused significant damage to the house, leading to an emergency demolition order. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Later in the morning, at 10:47 a.m., WFPS crews were dispatched to a two-storey house in the 200 block of Powers Street. Upon arrival, crews observed smoke coming from the structure. They promptly entered the house and launched a fire attack, quickly extinguishing the flames. The fire was under control by 11:10 a.m.
Residents of the house had self-evacuated prior to the crews’ arrival, and no injuries were reported. The City’s Emergency Social Services team was called to assist displaced residents in finding temporary accommodations.
Preliminary investigations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental, resulting from an electrical malfunction. Damage estimates are not yet available.
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