City considers deadline extension for vacant fire fee program

By: Free Press staff Posted: 4:07 PM CST Monday, Jan. 6, 2025

City council will consider extending the deadline for an opt-in program that would charge vacant building owners the cost of fighting fires on their property.

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City council will consider extending the deadline for an opt-in program that would charge vacant building owners the cost of fighting fires on their property.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/01/2025 (243 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City council will consider extending the deadline for an opt-in program that would charge vacant building owners the cost of fighting fires on their property.

Amendments to the vacant building bylaw in October created a fixed-fee structure that charged homeowners $10,000 for the first fire and increasing after subsequent fires, rather than charging based on the amount of time fire-fighting apparatus was on the scene. It also allowed owners who were charged under the old structure to opt in to the new one, with the deadline to join Dec. 31.

The public service is recommending the deadline be extended to April 30, citing delays caused by the recent Canada Post strike and the “extensive work required to assess and issue invoices and the desire to ensure impacted property owners have the ability to connect with the department” on the program.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
There were 182 vacant structure fires from January to October 2024, according to the WFPS.

“It is important to ensure all property owners have the opportunity to fully understand the changes and have any questions answered,” the report, which will be discussed by the standing policy committee on Friday, reads.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service handed out 43 invoices between March 2023 and December 2023, before the program was paused to review and update it. Around 75 invoices will be eligible for the new opt-in policy.

There were 182 vacant structure fires from January to October 2024, the most recent numbers provided from the WFPS. There were 156 vacant fires in 2023 and 97 in 2022.