Temporary encampment in Winnipeg’s West End goes up in flames
A temporary encampment in Winnipeg’s West End went up in flames on Sunday evening.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the fire in the 600 block of Langside Street just after 6 p.m.
When crews got to the scene, they found several tents engulfed in smoke and flames.
The City of Winnipeg noted that several small explosions occurred, caused by compressed gas cylinders and propane tanks.
Everyone at the encampment safely got out, as well as tenants of two nearby homes. No one was hurt in the fire.
Staff with The Downtown Community Safety Partnership came to the scene to help the displaced residents.
The cause of the fire is being investigated. The encampment was destroyed and one neighbouring home sustained minor heat and smoke damage.
Firefighters in Winnipeg have responded to 20 fires in encampments since Oct. 30, describing six of them as significant.
Fire Chief Christian Schmidt said these fires put residents, the public and first responders at risk.
“People have sustained significant burn injuries at these encampments as a result of fires,” he said. “These folks suffer on their own in the community and at some point, they turn up deceased in the community or they present to the hospital with severe burns and infections. It’s a real concern.”
The WFPS estimates there are between 10 and 15 multi-person encampments in the city at any given time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6% in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.