Winnipeg, MB – At 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to a report of a fire at 702 Selkirk Avenue. Upon arrival on scene, crews found the fire well involved and adopted a defensive attack.
All residents of the building self-evacuated prior to crew arrival and were assisted by City of Winnipeg Emergency Social Services. No injuries were reported. Currently, two cats remain missing.
Due to the extensive damage of the building, the remaining structure will be taken down today and traffic along Selkirk Avenue will be impacted. WFPS crews remain on scene and the cause of the fire is under investigation. No damage estimates are available at this time.
As part of the response, the WFPS deployed its new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) for the first time to assist with the assessment of the fire and later, the detection of hot spots.
“With the drone’s help, the commander of the scene was better able to critically assess the dangers of this fire and direct the crews to target the fire in a more efficient manner,” said Assistant Chief Jay Shaw. “This is a great example of how our department is using technology to increase safety for our crews and also create better outcomes for citizens”
Launched in July of this year, the drone can be used in a variety of scenarios including water rescues, hazardous materials response, fire scene safety assessments and reconnaissance as well as wildland fire monitoring. It can also be used in post incident analysis and investigation. It allows for a safer, quicker, and more efficient response to emergencies with the use of high definition video and a thermal imaging camera. Funding for the approximately $44,037 UAV program came from the Innovation Capital Fund. The WFPS currently has four trained pilots on each shift.