Winnipeg, MB – At 9:05 a.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of smoke in the 0 to 100 block of Point Douglas Avenue.
When crews arrived on-scene to investigate, they found a well-involved fire with heavy smoke coming from a vacant warehouse. Accessing the building was a challenge due to deep snow on the property. A front-end loader was deployed to the scene to clear a path in the snow for the fire apparatus and crews.
Once crews established access to the structure, a defensive attack was launched using aerial ladders and hand lines. WFPS crews were unable to enter the building as its structural integrity was comprised.
WFPS crews are expected to be on scene for an extended period of time, bringing the fire under control and then extinguishing hotspots. Local road closures are in effect and residents are advised to avoid the area. Higgins Avenue, between Sutherland Avenue and Annabella Street, is currently closed.
In addition to the deep snow at the site, today’s cold weather is also posing a challenge for WFPS crews with water, trucks, personal protective equipment, and tools freezing up quickly. The area around the fire scene is ice-covered and very slippery and extra caution is required to prevent injuries. Crews are being rotated in and out of operations frequently to protect them from the conditions.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No damage estimates are available at this time.
There have been a number of significant fires at this property, the most recent in September 2021 when a large structure was destroyed.