Two critically injured in Christmas Day apartment fire die

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This article was published 27/12/2022 (631 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two people injured in a fire in a downtown Winnipeg public housing apartment block early Christmas Day have died.

Part of the Warwick Apartments went up in flames just past 4 a.m. Sunday, forcing 42 people to flee from the Manitoba Housing complex.

Firefighters were told people were trapped in the building at 366 Qu’Appelle Ave., while disabled residents would need help to escape, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said at the time.

Crews pulled six people from the 113-year-old building who had to be hospitalized, three in critical condition.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jay Murray confirmed two of them, a man and a woman, died of injuries sustained in the fire. Their names and ages have not been made public.

“We are still in the process of ensuring next-of-kin has been appropriately notified,” Murray said.

“No charges have been laid at this time; however, the Winnipeg Police Service is continuing to investigate together with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service — which is typical in severe or fatal fires.”

City of Winnipeg emergency social services workers secured rooms at a nearby hotel for residents of the complex who have been left temporarily homeless.

A provincial spokesman said police have just released the building back to Manitoba Housing, so it is too soon to make any estimates on the extent of the damage or when residents may be able to return.

“Staff have been working to support tenants since Christmas Day and are concerned for the well-being of those injured in this tragic incident. The province, through Manitoba Housing and (Employment and Income Assistance) have been working with other community agencies to provide ongoing supports, including hotel accommodations and meals for displaced tenants,” the spokesman said.

Two of those displaced said Tuesday they were initially told by a police officer to expect to return in two or three days but neighbours said they thought the extent of the damage meant it would be longer.

Jeri Richard, 61, said her second-floor suite was directly below the third-floor apartment where the blaze began.

The deaths in the Qu’Appelle Avenue blaze add to the list of fire-related fatalities this year.

On Nov. 6, a man was found dead after a house fire on the 700 block of Logan Avenue.

On April 20, police homicide detectives took over an investigation into the death of Steven Andrew Mingo, 30, who firefighters found dead in suspicious circumstances at 669 Flora Ave. No arrests have been announced.

On Jan. 27, a morning blaze in a single-storey house on Simcoe Street left a five-year-old in critical condition. The child died in hospital that day.

Nine people had to be taken to hospital, five of whom were children. Police said at the time the fire did not appear suspicious.

On Jan. 21, 61-year-old Brian Robert Scibak was found dead in a bungalow on the 1900 block of William Avenue West after firefighters doused a large blaze.

The fire was deemed suspicious and the death is being investigated as a homicide. Police have announced no arrests.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera