Vacant-property fires in Winnipeg are occurring at a record-breaking pace this year.
According to city data reviewed by the Free Press, fire crews had, as of June 30, responded to 114 blazes at vacant properties. In all of 2023, there were 156 such fires, the most ever recorded.
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service personnel extinguished fires at 57 vacant buildings and 15 outdoor properties up to June 30 this year. In 2023, the number was 82 buildings and 17 outdoor properties.
The scene of a recent fire at a vacant, boarded-up bungalow on Burrows Avenue on Tuesday.
In 2023, WFPS responded to 3,389 fires — an increase of approximately 33 per cent over 2022 and an 87 per cent increase since 2019.
The majority of the 2023 spike was attributable to outdoor incidents — brush and grass fires, trash containers and miscellaneous outdoor properties.
“(The statistics) are certainly very concerning,” said WFPS Deputy Chief Scott Wilkinson.
United Firefighters of Winnipeg President Tom Bilous said due to the increase in calls, union members are declining overtime, and Workers Compensation Board claims for both physical injuries and mental-health concerns are on the rise.
“We can not get enough members to come in,” he said. “It’s starting to spiral out of control.”
Bilous is concerned outdated staffing ratios, which are regulated by the municipal government, will further increase response times and burn out personnel.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said recent changes to the city’s vacant building bylaw will address the situation. Obligations for owners to board up properties are more stringent, requiring thicker plywood and stronger and longer screws.
The majority of the 2023 spike in fires at vacant properties was attributable to outdoor incidents — brush and grass fires, and trash containers.
The amendment also increased the first inspection fee to $1,685 from $1,355 and adds $1,000 per subsequent inspection.
Wilkinson said the city is “reconsidering” its fee structure to hold vacant property owners accountable.
The city has identified about 700 problem properties needing redevelopment.
nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca
Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole.
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