Winnipeg, MB – At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a fire in a three-storey apartment building in the 200 block of Broadway.
Upon arrival at the scene, crews found smoke in the building. They entered the building and fought the fire from inside. The fire was declared under control at 6:07 p.m.
Crews assisted one occupant out of the building. On-scene Paramedics transported the individual to hospital in stable condition. All other occupants safely self-evacuated. No other injuries were reported.
The City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services (ESS) team was deployed to assist displaced residents in finding temporary accommodations.
Damage was primarily contained to the suite where the fire originated. Damage estimates are not available at this time.
The preliminary investigation suggests the fire was accidental, caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials. Residents are reminded to follow these safety tips:
- Smoking material should always be extinguished in a proper ashtray or deep metal container.
- Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out. Dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that.
- Butts should never be thrown from balconies, decks, car windows, or disposed of near any vegetation such as grass, leaves or brush.
Never use a plant pot as an ashtray. Potting soil is a mix of dirt and a number of combustible organic materials such as peat moss, shredded wood and minerals which are combustible. When a butt is put into a planter, it can smolder for several hours. Once the container heats up, it can crack, giving the smoldering material oxygen and the opportunity to spread to other combustibles such as decks, balconies, walls, etc.