Police rescue man from burning, boarded-up home

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This article was published 18/10/2024 (417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police used random tools while trying to gain access to a burning, partially boarded-up home with a man trapped in the basement.

The Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release that the fire is suspicious and being investigated as arson.

Officers were sent to the two-storey home on the 700 block of Flora Avenue at 12:04 a.m. Friday and found it was fully engulfed in flames, making entry through the doors impossible. They saw the basement windows were boarded up with plywood and security bars.

The officers used a shovel and an ice-scraper they found within the yard to begin removing plywood from the window until backup arrived with breaching tools.

Once officers were inside, they directed the man through the smoke and towards the window, removing him from the basement. The 53-year-old victim was transported by paramedics to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable, the WPS said Friday afternoon.

Two officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Firefighters declared the fire under control at 12:38 a.m.

The City of Winnipeg’s emergency social services team helped find temporary accommodations for displaced residents.

The house sustained fire, smoke and water damage.

The WPS is asking anyone with information about the fire to contact the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477) or online.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca