Winnipeg, MB – The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to a number of fires overnight in Elmwood.
At 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the first call came in reporting a debris fire in the vicinity of Talbot Avenue and Gateway Road.
Then, at 11:23 p.m., a call came in reporting a fire in the rear of the 500 block of Harbison Avenue East. Crews responded and extinguished a debris fire which extended to a shed.
At 11:30 p.m. another call came in reporting a garage fire in the 500 block of Harbison Avenue East. Crews attended and quickly extinguished the fire.
The next call came in just one minute later at 11:31 p.m. reporting a fire in the rear of the 400 block of Tweed Avenue. When they arrived at the scene, WFPS crews found a bin fire. It was quickly extinguished before it spread to the adjacent structures.
No injuries were reported as a result of these fires.
All incidents are under investigation but are considered suspicious. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Winnipeg Police Service.
Residents can follow these precautions to better protect their family and property from opportunistic arson:
- Clean up potential combustible items around your yard and home. Fires can spread quickly, so keep yard waste and bulky items like furniture away from your home, garage and fence.
- If you have bulky waste items like furniture and appliances, call 311 and the City will remove bulky items for a fee.
- Garbage is a frequent target for set fires, so consider placing your garbage and recycling bins out the morning of collection.
- Use motion-activated lights to brighten the outside of your home or garage.
- Store flammable materials safely.
- Keep shrubs and trees near buildings trimmed and watered and ensure they are regularly cleared of dead plant matter.