Winnipeg, MB – At 1:07 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to reports of a fire in a one-and-a-half storey, single family home in the 400 block of Young Street.
Upon arrival on scene, crews encountered smoke coming from the house. They launched an offensive attack but due to deteriorating conditions they were forced to exit the structure and transition to a defensive fire attack.
All occupants of the house safely self-evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. No injuries were reported.
Crews remain on scene at this time using an aerial ladder and hose streams to extinguish the fire. It is expected operations will continue throughout the morning. The below-freezing temperatures are creating challenging conditions. The area around the fire scene is ice-covered and slippery. Crews are being rotated in and out of operations as required to provide them with breaks from the cold.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage estimates are not available at this time but the house is expected to be a complete loss due to severe fire, smoke, and water damage.
Young Street is closed between Ellice Avenue and Sargent Avenue. Once crews complete their work at the scene and roads re-open, drivers and pedestrians are asked to use caution in the area as water used to fight the fire has frozen and created slippery conditions. The City will be monitoring conditions and applying sand and de-icing agents to roadways and sidewalks as required to improve traction.