Winnipeg, MB – At approximately 4:10 a.m. on June 10, 2019, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews responded to reports of a fire in a single-storey, multi-family home in the 600 block of Ross Avenue. Once on scene crews encountered a fire on the exterior of the structure which was extending into one of the suites. An offensive attack was launched and the fire was declared under control at 4:37 a.m.
Crews evacuated one individual from the suite impacted by the fire. No injuries were reported.
Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental due to the improper disposal of smokers’ materials. No damage estimates are available at this time.
Residents are reminded they should never use a plant pot as an ashtray. Potting soil is a mix of dirt and a number of combustible organic materials such as peat moss, shredded wood and minerals which are combustible. When a butt is put into a planter, it can smolder for several hours. Once the container heats up, it can crack, giving the smoldering material oxygen and the opportunity to spread to other combustibles such as decks, balconies, walls, etc. Smoking material should always be extinguished in an ashtray or deep metal container. Butts should also never be thrown from car windows, or disposed of near any vegetation such as grass or brush.