Winnipeg, MB – Ellice Avenue Fire
At 4:07 a.m. on January 13, 2019, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to a fire alarm in a three-storey walk-up apartment complex in the 600 block of Ellice Avenue. Upon arrival, crews encountered occupants of the building self-evacuating through the front and rear doors of the building. Two individuals had evacuated out of windows on the second floor and were clinging to a ledge. Crews quickly used ladders to bring these individuals to safety.
A working fire was declared and crews launched an interior, offensive attack. They quickly located and extinguished the fire, bringing it under control by 4:33 a.m. They then worked to ventilate smoke from the building.
While work to extinguish the fire was happening, crews were simultaneously conducting a search of the building. Firefighters located one individual still in the building. This individual was transported to hospital in critical condition but has since been upgraded to unstable condition. One cat was also located deceased in the building.
Approximately 30 individuals were displaced from the building. While awaiting the arrival of a Winnipeg Transit bus for shelter, they were able to shelter inside of a nearby business. Upon arrival of the bus, paramedics assisted the individuals, and provided assessments. No other injuries were reported.
The City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services team is on scene to ensure all displaced residents have somewhere safe to relocate to while the building is uninhabitable. The City’s Animal Services Agency is also on scene to provide care for other animals displaced by the fire. Traffic in the area will remain impacted until crews complete their work on scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and no damage estimates are available at this time.
Augusta Drive Fire
At approximately 6:40 p.m. on January 12, 2019, WFPS crews responded to reports of a fire in a single-storey family home in the 0-100 block of Augusta Drive. Upon arrival, crews launched an interior, offensive attack, quickly bringing the fire under control by 6:59 p.m.
All occupants of the home had self-evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. They were assessed on scene by paramedics and one individual was transported to hospital in stable condition. No other injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and no damage estimates are available at this time.