Vacant home demolished after burning for fourth time since August

Firefighters battled a blaze at a vacant house on the 500 block of William Avenue for the fourth time since August.

Crews were sent to the house at about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday and remained there Thursday. The two-storey brick building was later demolished.

Firefighters launched a defensive attack when they arrived because it was not safe to enter the house, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

They continued to spray water on the fire as of about 6:15 a.m., while a drone was used to find hotspots. No injuries were reported.

Neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution, and some roads in the area were closed. A Winnipeg Transit bus was being used as shelter for evacuees.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. s a complete loss and could be demolished, the city said.

The house was damaged in fires on Aug. 18, Sept. 26 and Oct. 31. It was vacant before the August fire.

A large backhoe tore into the building at about noon methodically bringing it down. A massive section of the roof collapsed, sending a tremor through the ground as neighbours — including children — watched the demolition unfold.

“I’m sure a lot of people in this neighborhood are thinking, ‘Thank God,’” said Shannon, a neighbour in a nearby high-rise who watched the fire and efforts to contain it unfold overnight.

“The fire department did one hell of a job containing it and keeping the two buildings next to it safe,” she said.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he saw eight people fleeing the house.

“Good riddance,” he said. “That house has been a problem as long as I’ve been here. It’s nice to see it coming down.”

A woman who lives next to the former rooming house said after the Oct. 31 fire that it was a frequent source of break-ins.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca