Highrise owner sues for $25M over 2023 Stradbrook blaze

A contractor’s extension cord is being blamed for a fire that tore through a Stradbrook Avenue highrise apartment block two years ago, displacing 200 residents — and now, the building’s owner is seeking $25 million in damages, according to lawsuits filed last week in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench.

In one of two suits, East Village Holdings Inc. alleges the August 2023 blaze started on the roof of the 18-storey, 146-unit building at 221 Stradbrook Ave., where several contractors were working on behalf of Rogers Communications, which had leased rooftop space from the owner.

The statement of claim says contractors transported equipment and materials — including batteries — to the roof and ran an extension cord in order to power them. The fire reportedly damaged the building’s rooftop water-protection system, and efforts to extinguish the blaze, along with smoke and water, caused further damage throughout the building.

With the water-protection system compromised, the suit claims subsequent rainfall led to even more damage and the structure was ultimately deemed uninhabitable.

The lawsuit claims that Rogers had a duty of care in all aspects of the construction work, including the choice of contractors and their supervision, along with the supplies and materials.

In a statement Tuesday, a Rogers spokesperson said the company would be filing a statement of defence in due course.

“We recognize the challenges faced by those impacted by the fire at 221 Stradbrook (Ave.) in 2023,” the spokesperson said. “While the cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, we’re aware third-party contractors had been on-site to start preparations for enhancing wireless coverage for residents and emergency responders within the community, as mutually agreed by the landlord.”

A second lawsuit, filed by former tenants, is seeking unspecified damages from the contractors, Rogers and the building owner. It alleges the fire was the result of improperly installed electrical equipment that was never properly inspected.

According to that claim, the extension cord had been knotted to a hanging scaffold and wrapped around a ladder — creating high electrical resistance, which increases the risk of overheating, insulation failure, arcing and fire. The tenants allege an electrical arc occurred within a second of the extension cord being energized, triggering the blaze.

They also claim the fire was caused or worsened by defective or malfunctioning lead-acid batteries that had been stored on the roof.

The tenants say they suffered thousands of dollars in damage to their units and personal belongings, as well as significant insurance deductibles and additional living expenses after being forced from their homes.

Lawyers for East Village Holdings declined to comment on both lawsuits on Monday.

The Aug. 17 fire sparked shortly before 7 p.m., provoking a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service response that included between 16 and 18 units, paramedics and platoon chiefs.

Fire crews, who were forced to lug equipment up to the roof because the building’s elevators were not operating, were able to get to the roof and use the building’s standpipe system to pour water on the blaze, declaring it under control before 8 p.m.

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

Firefighters worked with the more than 100 evacuated tenants to compile lists of essential goods in their suites, including keys and medications, and went up and down the stairs to retrieve and deliver the items.

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.

Apartments in the building are once again available for rent.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca