11°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Two dead after fire in Winnipeg Beach
Winnipeg Beach firefighters look at the charred shell of a Prospect Street home in Winnipeg Beach. Two people died and one was sent to a Winnipeg hospital after a fire at the home early Sunday morning. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Investigators inspect the charred shell of a home in Winnipeg Beach where two people died and one was sent to a Winnipeg hospital after a fire early Sunday morning. (JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
A charred, blackened shell is all that remains of a Winnipeg Beach home after a deadly blaze claimed the lives of two young women this morning.
RCMP said crews responded to the fire on Prospect Street at around 6:30 a.m. Three people were inside the home, but only one, an 18-year-old man, was able to escape the fire. He was taken to hospital in stable condition.
Neighbors have confirmed that Ken Mosher was in the home with his sister, Lisa Mosher, and a friend when the flames broke out. The neighbours said Ken, 18, made it out, but Lisa and her friend were unable to escape.
Rena Serlin lives next door to the Mosher family and awoke to the smell of smoke and the sound of screams. Serlin ran outside to see Ken leaving the burning home, screaming that his sister and her friend were still inside.
"At that point, the house was just totally engulfed in huge flames. There was nothing we could do but call 911 and hope," said Serlin.
Another neighbour had a varying account of what transpired. "I saw a boy run out of the home with a dog, "said the neighbour, who asked that her name not be used. "A girl ran outside after on the front lawn. But after only a few seconds she ran back in. I didn't see her come out again."
Serlin said she had been told the fire broke out in the back room of the home. She said paramedics arrived on scene first, followed by members of the local fire department. The blaze was contained and did not damage any of the surrounding homes.
Cpl. Darryl Robak with the Arborg RCMP was able to confirm that the two fatalities were women. Robak said the 18-year-old man has been taken to Health Sciences Centre to be treated for his injuries.
Lisa Adair said she was outside this morning when the fire trucks arrived at the Prospect St. fire. "At first we thought it was a false alarm, and then looking above the bandstand, you could see the black smoke just billowing out," she said.
Gimli RCMP and the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commission remained on the scene investigating this afternoon. RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish said it's too soon to know the cause of the fire.
"There's a lot of questions right now, not as many answers, but we'll get there," she said.
The home was a complete loss.
The tragedy comes on the eve of the two-year anniversary of another fatal fire in Winnipeg Beach. An early-morning house fire on Aug. 6, 2010 claimed the life of 90-year-old Patrick Gallagher.
History
Updated on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 1:08 PM CDT: added photo
2:50 PM: added comments from neighbour
3:06 PM: added information on homeowner
3:38 PM: added information on victims from neighbours
5:23 PM: added further comments from neighbours
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- New owner for lumber stores
- Peeping Tom portrayed as sexual deviant in court
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Man killed after test drive a regular guy, and it cost him his life: widow
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Housing slowdown to worsen, cost 150,000 jobs, says mortgage group
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- New owner for lumber stores
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Paying bills and consumer consumption hurting Canadians' ability to save: study
- MP Bruinooge says Bill 18 could infringe on religious freedoms
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.