Fire at inner-city daycare was deliberately set: WFPS

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A fire was intentionally set at an inner-city daycare this week.

Firefighters rushed to the Kid Gloves day care inside Western Glove Works at 555 Logan Ave., in response to a monitored fire alarm on Monday at 8:13 p.m.

The building’s sprinkler system kept the blaze in check to allow firefighters to quickly put it out.

Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said nobody was inside the day care at the time.

“(Major crimes unit) is continuing the investigation,” said McKinnon. “They investigate all of the arsons.”

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service spokeswoman Erin Madden said the fire was determined to be intentionally set.

“(The) WFPS fire investigations branch investigates for the origin and cause of a fire,” Madden said on Thursday.

“Recently, we added an accelerant detection K9 to this team. The fire on Logan Avenue involving the day care was determined by our investigator and K9 to be incendiary (and) intentionally set.”

The new dog, named Scooby, is specially trained to sniff out accelerants. He arrived last month after graduating from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives canine program on April 26.

Scooby is the only trained dog in the country.

“Scooby will provide a significant advantage to our fire investigations branch, providing advanced detection, allowing investigators to collect compelling evidence to assist Winnipeg Police Service and Crown prosecutors with arrests and successful convictions,” said Fire Paramedic Chief Christian Schmidt at the time of the dog’s arrival.

Tammy Tran, the day care’s director, said the facility had to close owing to fire, smoke and water damage.

“We are in the process of licensing another location and getting a moving truck. It will probably be next week before the children can go to the other locations.

“It’s dreadful. This affects all of the children and all of the families. It is very sad.”

Tran said the fire was set inside the facility’s staff room, but the sprinklers caused water damage throughout the day care so equipment will need to be replaced and damaged walls fixed before it can reopen.

She said it means families will continue to be affected until the renovations can be completed, because next week half of the kids will be going to a day care at Young Street and Broadway while the other half go to a space on Flora Avenue.

“We are lucky enough to be able to rent a place but we will have to divide the day care,” Tran said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca