Winnipeg, MB – At 3:07 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews responded to reports of fire at a bungalow in the zero to 100 block of Killington Bay.
When crews arrived on scene, smoke was coming from the house. They went inside to fight the fire and used hose lines to apply water to the flames. The fire was under control at 3:42 p.m.
Residents self-evacuated before crews arrived on scene. One person was assessed by paramedics and taken to hospital in stable condition.
Firefighters completed a search of the structure and found one cat deceased.
The house suffered smoke and water damage from the fire. Damage estimates are not available.
WFPS’ Accelerant Detection K9 assisted fire investigators at the scene.
Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental and related to smoking. Residents are reminded to follow these safety tips:
- Smoking material should always be extinguished in a proper ashtray or deep metal container. The container should be placed on a sturdy surface, away from anything that can burn.
- Do not smoke in bed or on surfaces that can catch fire (upholstered furniture).
- Always be fully alert when smoking. Don’t smoke while falling asleep, or after taking medications or substances that make you drowsy.
- Before throwing ashes and butts away, be sure to ensure they are fully extinguished. Dousing them in water or sand is the best way to ensure they are completely out.
- Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials out of the reach of children or in a locked cabinet.
- Butts should never be thrown from balconies, decks, car windows, or disposed of near any vegetation such as grass, leaves or brush.
- 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.