Winnipeg, MB – At 9:45 a.m. on November 6, 2019, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to an automatic alarm at an eight-storey apartment tower in the 100 block of Hendon Avenue. Once on scene, crews determined there was a small fire in a stove on the fifth floor and it was very quickly extinguished. Fire damage was contained to the suite of origin.
Evacuation of the entire apartment complex was not necessary. Paramedics on scene transported one patient to hospital in unstable condition.
No damage estimates are available at this time. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental due to unattended cooking. Residents are reminded of the following safety strategies:
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking. Stove burners should always be turned off when leaving the kitchen, even for a short time.
- Anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — should always be kept away from the stovetop.
- Oil should be always be heated slowly. If cooking oil catches fire and the fire is small and manageable, use a kitchen fire extinguisher or cover the pot with a metal lid. Never use water to put out an oil fire.