On October 18, 2024, 12:04 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service North District General Patrol officers responded to the report of a fire at a two-story residence in the 700 block of Flora Ave.
Officers discovered an adult male was trapped in the basement of the residence, which was fully engulfed in flames, making entry through the doors impossible. They also found the basement windows had been previously boarded up with plywood and security bars.
Quick thinking officers used a shovel and ice scraper located within the yard to begin removing plywood from the window until backup arrived with breaching tools to assist in gaining access to the basement. Once entry was made, they located a male inside.
Officers directed the victim through the smoke and flames towards the window and extracted him from the basement. The 53-year-old victim was transported by paramedics to hospital in unstable condition and has been upgraded to stable.
Two Winnipeg Police officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries as a result of the incident.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service successfully brought the fire under control. https://www.winnipeg.ca/news/2024-10-18-winnipeg-fire-paramedic-service-respond…
After the initial investigation, investigators believe the origins of this fire to be suspicious in nature, and it is being investigated as an arson at present time. The Major Crimes Unit and WFPS Investigators will continue this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 204-986-6219, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477), or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.