Downtown highrise uninhabitable after fire, 200 residents forced to find new homes By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 6:14 PM CDT Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023

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This article was published 24/08/2023 (1111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

About 200 tenants forced out of a two-year-old downtown highrise apartment by a fire last week will have to find somewhere else to live after the building was found to be so extensively damaged it is uninhabitable.

A notice sent to all tenants of the 146-suite, 18-storey building at 221 Stradbrook Ave. by its owners said while the fire was confined to the roof and the emergency systems functioned, the water damage is extensive.

“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that due to the extent of the fire damage, we are not allowed to occupy the building with tenants and therefore we will not be able to re-open The Spot At East Village,” the statement from P3 Realty, also known as Private Pension Partners, said.

“As such, we suggest that all residents find new living accommodations with formal notices to terminate forthcoming.”

Rob Holt, who lived on the 17th floor, said he is now living with family while looking for a new apartment.

“There are now 200 people looking for the same apartment I’m looking for and they all are starting to look at the same time,” Holt said Thursday.

“But I’m optimistic for now. It is an unfortunate situation for everyone, but for me it is not the worst thing in the world.”

The Aug. 17 fire started shortly before 7 p.m. Fire crews were able to get to the roof and use the building’s standpipe system to pour water on the blaze, declaring it under control at 7:44 p.m.

Some residents had to be assisted out of the building, while others escaped on their own. Firefighters, working with the city’s Animal Services Agency, were able to locate and evacuate more than a dozen cats and several dogs.

“I’m optimistic for now. It is an unfortunate situation for everyone, but for me it is not the worst thing in the world.”–Rob Holt, resident

One firefighter was taken to hospital, treated and released. A tenant suffering from smoke inhalation, was transported to hospital in unstable condition.

No other injuries were reported.

The city’s emergency social services team had to help about 45 residents find temporary accommodation that night.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said the cause was an electrical failure.

Eli Wild, a tenant on the eighth floor, said she feels lucky to have already found another apartment nearby in Osborne Village.

“I won’t be able to move in until Nov. 1,” she said. “I will Airbnb until then.”

Wild said she has a rental insurance policy and is hoping to have her furniture and belongings cleaned before she moves into her new place.

“I had 20 minutes to collect belongings… and my suite looked pretty dry, but my couch and bedding smells smoky; they need to be washed,” she said.

No one from P3 Realty could be reached for comment.

The notice to tenants indicated the company had contacted three other local property management firms that “will prioritize and support your applications when finding a new home.”

— With files from Malak Abas

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca