Cousins sue city, townhouse owner, property manager over fatal 2024 fire

A man and his cousin are suing the City of Winnipeg, a property management company and the corporation that owns the property for a fire that killed a woman in their townhouse complex.

In a statement of claim filed in Court of King’s Bench on Nov. 7, Arshdeep Virdi and Kingpreet Virdi say the property manager and owner owed them a duty of care and failed to do so because the complex had no fire escape, no back door or window as a second means of escape.

Firefighters responded to the June 26, 2024 blaze at 820 Keewatin St. that trapped Arshdeep and his sister-in-law Nirmaljeet Kaur, in their suite. The two eventually escaped, but Kaur died in hospital from her injuries a few days later.

Kingpreet Virdi, Kaur’s husband, was not home at the time of the fire.

In July this year, Izak Catlen Eldon Sararas, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter, admitting he intentionally set the fire after going off his schizophrenia medication.

Court heard at the time Sararas had not been taking his medication for several days when, at about 3:25 a.m., he set fire to a couch on a patio adjacent to a ground-level suite.

The lawsuit claims no fire or smoke alarm alerts in the suite the couple became trapped inside.

“Arshdeep opened the front door of the apartment in attempt to escape. The front door of the apartment, and stairs from the front door of the apartment to the ground level, were engulfed by flames,” the lawsuit states, claiming the city is responsible for failing to ensure the complex was following city bylaws for safety and emergency exits.

Current city bylaws dictate the onus falls on owners to inspect and maintain their properties.

Arshdeep Virdi suffered burns to his face, hands and eyes, as well as injuries related to smoke inhalation.

He is seeking damages and special damages of an unknown amount related to the incident. Kingpreet Virdi, who is acting on behalf of Kaur’s estate, is claiming damages relating to expenses incurred because of his wife’s death.

No statements of defence have been filed yet.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca