Winnipeg, MB - At 1:23 a.m. on March 5, 2019 Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to reports of a fire in a one and a half storey house in the 900 block of Alexander Avenue. Once on scene, crews found a well-involved fire with heavy smoke and flames. An interior offensive attack was launched; however, due to deteriorating conditions, crews were forced to exit the structure and move to a defensive strategy, while protecting the adjacent structures. Crews will remain on scene for the next several hours ensuring all hotspots are extinguished.
The house is believed to be vacant. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire will be under investigation and no damage estimates are available at this time.
Arlington Street is closed to northbound and southbound traffic between Logan Avenue and William Avenue. This closure will extend through the morning rush hour.
Motorists in the area should exercise caution as the water used to fight the fire covered the roadway and has now frozen. The City will be working in the area to open up storm drains, remove ice and water from the road, and apply sand and de-icing agents as required.