Winnipeg, MB – At 10:53 a.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to reports of a fire at the Home Depot located at 1999 Abinojii Mikanah.
When crews arrived, they found smoke in the store and located a fire in a utility room. They launched an offensive fire attack and quickly extinguished the fire. The fire had been kept under control by the building’s sprinkler system.
Staff and customers were evacuated from the store. No injuries were reported.
Damage was contained to the utility room. Preliminary observations suggest the fire was accidental, caused by a failure in a battery or charger.
When charging anything with a battery, there is a risk of fire. You can protect yourself by:
- Always following the manufacturer’s instructions
- Using only the battery and charging cables that came with your item
- Unplugging the item once it is fully charged
- Charging your item on hard surface like a table or countertop. Avoid charging on soft surfaces like your bed, couch, or under a pillow.
Stop using or charging your item if you notice batteries the batteries are:
- Giving off too much heat
- Making odd noises.
- Leaking
- Changing shape or colour
- Showing signs of corrosion