Winnipeg, MB – At 1:19 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a fire in a one-and-a-half-storey, single-family house in the 1500 block of Alexander Avenue.
When crews arrived on scene, they encountered heavy black smoke coming from the structure. Crews initially launched an interior offensive attack but were forced to exit the structure due to unsafe conditions. They transitioned to a defensive attack and once conditions improved were able to re-enter the building to fight the fire. It was declared under control at 3 p.m.
There were two occupants in the house at the time of the fire. One self-evacuated prior and the other occupant was rescued from a second-floor window by two neighbours using a residential-grade ladder prior to the arrival of WFPS crews. Both occupants were assessed on-scene by paramedics and taken to hospital in stable condition. No other injuries were reported. As a precaution, crews temporarily evacuated residents of both neighbouring homes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No damage estimates are available at this time.