A short in an extension cord appears to have been the catalyst in a Selkirk Avenue house fire on Saturday evening, January 29, 2022.

When crews arrived on the scene shortly after 5:30pm they found smoke coming from the one-and-a-half storey house and launched an offensive attack. The fire was declared under control at 6:06 pm.

Paramedics assessed two people who had self-evacuated the home prior to emergency crews arriving. Both people were taken to hospital in unstable condition.

A search of the home discovered four dogs who had died and two cats who were injured. Firefighters provided the cats oxygen before they were handed over to animal services and take to an emergency vet for treatment.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service released a set of reminders for residents to follow to help avoid these types of fires:

• Do not overload extension cords or use them as a substitute for permanent wiring.
• Do not run an electrical/extension cord through walls, doorways, ceilings, floors or under rugs or mats. If a cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard.
• Do not allow extension cords to run through water or snow on the ground.
• Do not use an extension cord for more than one appliance.
• Multiple plug outlets must be plugged directly into mounted electrical receptacles; they cannot be chained together.
• Make sure the extension cord or temporary power strip you use is rated for the products to be plugged in, and is marked for either indoor or outdoor use.
• The appliance or tool that you are using the cord with will have a wattage rating on it. Match this up with your extension cord, and do not use a cord that has a lower rating.
• Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way. Touching even a single exposed strand can give you an electric shock or burn.
• Never use three-prong plugs with outlets that only have two slots for the plug. Do not cut off the ground pin to force a fit. This defeats the purpose of a three-prong plug and could lead to an electrical shock. Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn’t fit.
• Buy only cords approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
• Do not plug in your vehicle inside an attached garage.
• Always examine your car’s block heater cord and extension cords for damage. Do not use the cord if it has frays or nicks.
• Replace your extension cord if you’ve accidentally driven away with it still plugged into the outlet and have a licensed mechanic check your block heater cord.

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