Status of fire at 65 Higgins Avenue

MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG July 19, 2006 - Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service personnel were dispatched to a fire at 65 Higgins Avenue at 00:29 hours this morning. Crews arrived to find a fully involved structure at the rear of the building, and transmitted a second alarm, requesting more resources, approximately ten minutes later. At the height of the blaze, over 14 fire units and 40 firefighters were on scene.

Given the extent of the fire, and the unsafe conditions inside the building, the fire was initially fought defensively, with no crews inside the building. Reports from the building owner indicate that materials inside the building included primarily furniture, bedding, restaurant supplies, and rolls of plastics, as well as small amounts of lawn chemicals.

A shift in wind conditions resulted in some low hanging smoke in nearby residential areas. As a precaution, some local residents were evacuated late this morning to a reception centre at 324 Logan Avenue. The centre, set-up by the City’s Community Services Department together with the Salvation Army and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, will function as a safe place for citizens who have been evacuated from neighbourhoods adjacent to the fire.

At present, 22 homes in the area have been evacuated. 10 individuals have registered at the Reception Centre and are being kept comfortable and safe until they can return to their homes. Others have gone to stay with family and friends.

As of 2:30 pm today, the fire was under control, but had consumed most of the building. Heavy equipment is being utilized to pull down walls to allow fire crews to direct water streams on to smoldering materials. It is expected to be another several hours before all smoldering materials and hidden fires can be extinguished.

Approximately 24 firefighters and 8 fire units are on the scene at this time. Higgins Avenue will remain closed to traffic throughout the rush hour and into this evening.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. It will be sometime before investigators will be able to gain access to the fire areas to conduct a more thorough investigation. No damage estimates are available at this time.