Two large fires sent multiple people to hospital and forced the closure of several streets in the West End Saturday morning.
Around 5:15 a.m., fire crews and emergency services rushed to the 700 block of Victor Street to find smoke and flames pouring from several homes.
“Upon arrival, it was discovered that the fire had started at the rear of a garage and spread to the home,” said Const. Eric Hofley with the Winnipeg Police Service. The fire then continued to spread to neighbouring homes on both sides, he said.
No one in the homes was injured, but the blaze caused $400,000. Neighbours told CTV News an older couple had been living in the home for about 30 years. They are now staying with relatives in the city, according to their neighbours.
Not long after the first fire broke out in the home, a second one broke out behind an apartment building across the street.
The apartment building had to be evacuated as a precaution. Several people were taken to hospital as a result of that blaze and all are now in stable condition, according to police.
The apartment building sustained about $30,000 damage.
Both fires forced the closure of Victor between Wellington Avenue and Sargent Avenue, as well as Wellington between Agnes Street and Toronto Street.
Police said they are treating both fires as suspicious but can’t say whether or not the fires are related.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (204) 986-6813 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-8477.
