Cold weather creating challenges as Winnipeg crews fight apartment building fire
Crews with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service are expected to remain on the scene of an apartment building fire for most of Friday, as the cold weather creates challenging conditions for them.
Firefighters were called to the incident just after 2 a.m. at a vacant apartment building in the 600 block of William Avenue. This same building had been damaged by a previous fire in July 2021.
When crews got to the scene, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building, and launched an exterior attack because it was unsafe for them to go inside.
The Winnipeg Police Service’s AIR1 helicopter was used to help out firefighters by monitoring the scene from above and providing updates.
Residents of one neighbouring home evacuated as crews worked to protect the home from the fire. The house sustained water and heat damage.
As of 7:15 a.m. on Friday, crews were using aerial ladders and hose streams to extinguish the fire. They are expected to remain at the scene for most of the day.
According to the City of Winnipeg, the cold weather has created challenges for firefighters. The city noted the area surrounding the scene is slippery and covered in ice.
Extra units are on the scene as crews need to be frequently rotated to protect them from the cold.
No one has been hurt in the fire.
William Avenue is closed between Sherbook Street and Isabel Street. People are asked to avoid the area.
The cause of the fire is being investigated. There are no damage estimates at this time, but the building is likely a total loss.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.