Impaired driving charge follows vehicle crossing fire hoses

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This article was published 10/01/2023 (669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One person is in police custody after an alleged impaired driver rolled over hoses city firefighters were using to douse a West End blaze early Wednesday.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews were called to a detached garage at a home on the 600 block of Arlington Street just before 3 a.m.

By the time they arrived, the garage was engulfed and the flames had spread to the adjacent two-storey house, which was unoccupied at the time. The fire was under control by 4:18 a.m.

Firefighters searched the garage and house and found no one inside. No one was reported hurt.

WFPS spokeswoman Erin Madden said, however, an “individual drove over hose lines” crews were using the douse the blaze.

“Thankfully, there were no impacts or injuries as a result,” Madden said.

WFPS said driving a vehicle over a fire hose could create unsafe conditions for crews and put others in the vicinity at risk of injury or death.

Firefighters called for police, Madden said.

Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon confirmed one person was taken into custody for an impaired driving offence.

WFPS said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation and had no damage estimates to provide.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera