Winnipeg, MB – At 4:32 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to the second fire of the day believed to involve a block heater.
WFPS crews were dispatched for reports of a fire in a two-storey, single-family home on Four Mile Road. Upon arrival at the scene, they found smoke and flames coming from the attached garage. They entered the structure and launched an interior fire attack. Water tankers were used to shuttle water to the scene as the fire was outside the City of Winnipeg water district. The fire was declared under control at 5:22 p.m. Damages were primarily contained to the garage.
All occupants of the residence safely self-evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. No injuries were reported.
Preliminary observations suggest the fire was accidental, involving a plugged-in block heater. Residents are reminded to follow these tips to prevent these types of fires:
- Do not plug in your vehicle inside an attached or detached garage, as a fire can start in the garage and quickly spread to other structures or your home, causing damage and putting people in danger.
- Check your block heater and extension cords for frays, cracks or damage before you plug in your vehicle outdoors. If the extension cord or block heater cord is damaged, replace it as soon as possible.
- Replace your extension cord if you’ve accidently driven away with it still plugged in to the outlet and have a licensed mechanic check your block heater cord.
- Do not overload extension cords or use them as a substitute for permanent wiring.
- Do not run an electrical/extension cord through walls, doorways, ceilings, floors or under rugs or mats. If a cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard.
- Do not allow extension cords to run through water or snow on the ground.