Winnipeg, MB - At 4:28 pm on Saturday, December 6, crews from Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services (WFPS) responded to a working fire in a 1-1/2 story, wood-frame home located at 753 Manitoba Avenue. Crews first on the scene were met with the structure well-involved. No one was in the home at the time of the fire.
This was initially treated as a "Defensive Operation" which means the fire was fought from the outside due to the volume and intensity of the fire. Once the fire was reduced to a manageable level, the operation became an "Offensive Operation" and crews were able to enter the residence and fight the fire from within. This required a labour intensive response, as the structure almost had to be dismantled from the inside to expose and extinguish pockets of fire and embers.
A post-incident "Firewatch" was established once crews cleared the fire. Due to the extent of the damage, and the possibility of heat / source of flame buried or hidden within the structure, crews are being rotated for a 48-hour period to monitor the structure.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damages to the building and contents are not known at this time.