Fires in Winnipeg ‘an alternative weapon’

Emergency crews and other municipal staff say they are proactively working to reduce incidents of arson amid concern that frequent blazes are putting residents and businesses at risk.

A news conference to discuss fire response and prevention was held Friday morning; fire crews battled five blazes at vacant properties before noon, which underscored the urgency of the threat.

Mayor Scott Gillingham acknowledged growing unease in the city.

“In recent months, we’ve seen many serious fires, especially in the downtown. Fires that have caused damage, displacement and fear. Each one takes a toll, not just on property but on people, on businesses and on confidence in public safety. I think it’s important Winnipeggers know how we, as a city, are responding in these situations,” said Gillingham.

Police made 23 arson arrests between January and September; some suspects were charged in multiple fires, said Winnipeg Police Service Insp. Jen McKinnon, who noted fires have become “an alternative weapon.”

The news conference largely focused on efforts that are already underway to reduce the risk of fires. During the first three quarters of 2025, the city said those efforts included conducting 9,616 inspections to enforce safety standards at vacant buildings, imposing strict requirements to board up 378 vacant buildings, collecting 372 tonnes of illegally dumped material and debris and having police investigate 177 arsons.

“Each (fire) takes a toll, not just on property but on people, on businesses and on confidence in public safety.”

During the same period in 2024, there were 9,669 inspections to enforce safety standards at vacant buildings, 111 strictly boarded properties, 306 tonnes of illegally dumped material and debris collected and 233 arson investigations.

“The work being done by fire, police and bylaw teams mirrors the collaboration that existed many years ago under the old arson task force,” said Gillingham.

Much of the co-ordination comes through the city’s Problem Property Committee and Arson Prevention Group, through which police, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and multiple city departments all work together.

In recent months, six suspected arsons were reported at Winnipeg restaurants, including Boujee Restaurant & Bar on Main Street last week, as well as Johnny G’s Restaurant on McDermot Avenue in August. A pair of fires gutted a portion of the Exchange Event Centre on Bannatyne Avenue shortly after that.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar on Main Street, Thida’s Thai Restaurant on Donald Street and Mae Sunee Thai Cuisine on Erin Street were also torched in suspected arsons in July.

Several Winnipeg business owners reported being targeted by an extortion racket that month, with some owners telling the Free Press their buildings were set on fire after they refused to comply.

On Friday, police officials declined to give details on investigations into those specific fires.

When directly asked if police believe the restaurant fires were connected to each other or involved extortion, McKinnon declined to say.

“We are actively and aggressively investigating these fires and are optimistic that we will have some answers for you in the near future … At this point, they’re investigations and I’m going to say, no, they’re not all linked at this point in time,” she said.

McKinnon said police can’t publicly reveal much about those blazes without compromising the investigations.

“I know that the community wants answers… I know people are fearful. I know business owners are stressed about this … We are aggressively working together to come to a resolution,” she said.

“If you are being extorted by anybody, report it to the Winnipeg Police Service. Do not wait until it gets to your business being burned down.”

The inspector urged anyone who has become a victim of an extortion attempt to contact police right away.

“If you are being extorted by anybody, report it to the Winnipeg Police Service. Do not wait until it gets to your business being burned down,” said McKinnon.

The group urged the public to assist with fire prevention and enforcement by sharing any video, photos and information related to a blaze with police or Crime Stoppers. Residents are asked to call 911 if they spot someone tampering with security boards or entering a vacant property, or call 311 to report illegal dumping or when boarded windows and doors have been breached.

Christian Schmidt, Chief of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, said Winnipeg has a high number of fires compared to other cities of its size, which puts firefighters, residents and businesses at risk.

“That is our reality and it demands urgency and it demands that we act together,” said Schmidt.

However, the fire chief noted recent fire response data is mixed. The city’s total number of reported fires decreased by 4.4 per cent between January and September 2025, compared to the same period last year, while fires at vacant properties shot up 8.3 per cent, he said.

During the same time, the number of properties damaged by arson fell 5.9 per cent, said McKinnon.

WFPS investigations are frequent, forcing many staff to work overtime to keep up, said Jason Fedoriw, a WPFS fire investigation co-ordinator.

Gillingham declined to say whether the city’s 2026 budget will include more funding to increase the number of firefighters or other emergency staff.

“Stay tuned to the budget,” he said.

The city’s preliminary budget will be released on Nov. 14.

— With files from Tyler Searle

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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