Winnipeg, MB – Last night, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to three residential fires believed to be caused accidentally.
Corydon Avenue
At 9:57 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a three-storey apartment building in the 500 block of Corydon Avenue.
At the scene, crews saw heavy smoke coming from the building. Firefighters attacked the fire from inside the building, declaring the fire under control at 10:26 p.m.
Paramedics assessed one patient and no transportation to hospital was required. Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental and related to cooking.
Miravista Drive
At 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a home in the 0-100 block of Miravista Drive.
At the scene, crews saw black smoke coming from the house. Firefighters attacked the fire from inside and declared the fire under control at 1:32 a.m.
All occupants safely self-evacuated before crews arrived. No injuries were reported. Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental and related to cooking.
Hastings Boulevard
At 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a two-storey complex in the 0-100 block of Hastings Boulevard.
Firefighters attacked the fire from inside the building, declaring the fire under control at 5:51 a.m.
No injuries were reported. Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental and related to improper disposal of smoking materials.
Safety Tips:
Remember to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on all levels of your home, and to have a home escape plan and practice it often. To avoid a fire, follow these tips:
Cooking Safety
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn off stove burners when leaving the kitchen, even for a short time.
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop, including oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains.
- Heat oil 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.
- Do not move a pan that is on fire, as you can be burned or injured while you move it.
- Learn about cooking safety and how to prevent a fire in your kitchen.
Disposal of Smoking Materials
- Dispose of cigarette butts in an ashtray or deep, wide metal container filled partway with sand or water.
- If you dispose of butts in the trash, douse them with water first.
- Never throw a butt from a car window or throw it on the ground, especially near grass, plants or anything that can catch on fire like a deck or shed.
- Never put out a butt in a planter. Potting soil contains organic materials that can smolder and catch fire, even hours later.
- Be mindful of where ashes may land while smoking.
- Learn about the dangers of improperly disposing of cigarette butts.