Winnipeg, MB – At 6:20 a.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2025, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a fire in a vacant house in the 200 block of Austin Street North.
Firefighters saw smoke coming from the house and launched a defensive attack because it was unsafe to enter the house. Crews used aerial ladders to apply water to the fire from above in addition to other firefighting tactics.
No injuries were reported. The building has sustained significant smoke, fire and water damage. Due to structural concerns and to ensure all hot spots are extinguished, WFPS is arranging an emergency demolition. Road closures in the area will remain in place until work is completed at the scene.
Freezing temperatures created challenging conditions for firefighters, with the area around the scene being ice-covered and slippery. Crews were rotated in and out of operations as required to provide them with breaks from the cold.
Firefighters previously responded to a fire at this location in March 2024.
Residents should use caution in the area, as water used to fight the fire froze and created slippery conditions. City of Winnipeg crews will be monitoring conditions and applying sand and de-icing agents to roadways and sidewalks as required to improve traction.
If you see someone actively entering a vacant building, or removing a building’s boards from windows or doors, call 911 to report the incident immediately.
If you notice boarded windows or doors that have been breached, but you do not see someone actively entering or trying to enter the building, report the incident to 311 by phone or online.