Fire crews battle pair of blazes in city

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This article was published 21/01/2024 (789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City fire crews responded to two fires in Winnipeg over the weekend, including one inside a severely compromised North Point Douglas industrial building.

Around 9:45 a.m. Sunday, firefighters responded to the large, vacant structure on Sutherland Avenue, between Maple Street North and Argyle Street North, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

“Upon arrival to the scene today, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from part of the building. They entered and fought the fire from the interior of the structure,” WFPS said Sunday.

Crews completed a search of the area where the fire occurred and no occupants were located. No injuries were reported.

The fire was declared under control at 11:15 a.m., but crews were expected to remain on scene into the evening to monitor potential hotspots.

The fire is under investigation. Damage estimates are not available.

The building was previously damaged by a fire on July 4, 2023.

WFPS at the time deemed the building a complete loss due to extensive damage that left it partially collapsed.

Firefighters demolished sections of the building to gain access to hotspots and extinguish the fire. The building has suffered additional damage from several other fires in the months since, WFPS said.

On Saturday, firefighters were on scene battling a blaze in Winnipeg’s North End neighbourhood.

Crews responded to the one-and-a-half storey, single-family home in the 500 block of Stella Avenue around 6:47 p.m.

“When crews arrived to the scene, they found a well-involved fire with heavy smoke and flames coming from the house. They launched a fire attack from the exterior of the structure. Once some of the flames were knocked down, they were able to enter the house to finish fighting the fire,” WFPS said.

All occupants of the house safely self-evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. No injuries were reported.

The fire was declared under control at 8:37 p.m.

The house suffered significant smoke, fire and water damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.