Winnipeg, MB – Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to two fires the morning of Monday, June 24.
Main Street fire
At 12:44 a.m. on Monday, June 24, WFPS crews responded to a monitored fire alarm at a hotel in the 500 block of Main Street.
They saw smoke coming from the structure upon arrival to the scene. Firefighters entered the building and launched a fire attack, using hose lines to put the fire out. It was declared under control at 1:09 a.m.
Occupants of the building were able to shelter in place while firefighters were on scene. No injuries were reported.
Most of the damage was contained to the suite where the fire started.
Preliminary investigations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental, caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. 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.
Assiniboine Avenue fire
At 3:40 a.m., WFPS crews responded to a monitored fire alarm at a 19-storey apartment block in the 300 block of Assiniboine Avenue.
Crews saw light smoke in the building when they arrived on scene. They launched a fire attack and quickly brought the fire under control. The fire was knocked down at 4:12 a.m.
Residents of the building sheltered in place while firefighters were on scene. There were no injuries reported.
Most of the damage was contained to the suite where the fire started.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.