Winnipeg, MB – At 11:42 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2021, the WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a vacant, three-storey apartment building in the 600 block of Sherbrook Street.
Upon arrival on scene, crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the building. A defensive attack was launched using aerial ladders and hose streams as fire conditions made it unsafe for firefighters to enter the structure.
Operations at the scene are ongoing at this time. It is expected that crews will remain at the scene for most of the day today as they work to extinguish the fire and protect a neighbouring house from damage.
As with any cold-weather fire operation, crews are dealing with challenging conditions. The area around the scene is ice-covered and slippery. Extra crews are on scene and are being rotated in and out of operations frequently to ensure members are protected from the cold conditions.
No injuries have been reported at this time. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No damage estimates are available but the building is expected to be a complete loss. The building had suffered damage from a previous fire.
Local traffic is impacted and residents are asked to avoid the area. Sherbrook Street is closed between Sargent Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. Cumberland Avenue is closed from Maryland Street to Sherbrook Street.
The WFPS thanks the Salvation Army for deploying its mobile food truck to the scene to provide refreshments for crews.