News briefs for Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Wildfire extinguished in Winnipeg

8:46 AM

A wildfire that spread to about 6,000 square metres on Tuesday is believed to have been caused by human activity.

Fire crews were sent to Marlene Street Park to extinguish the blaze near the banks of the Seine River at 4:47 p.m.

Firefighters used specialized equipment to stop the fire from spreading and declared it under control at 5:02 p.m.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service reminded residents to use caution when doing any sort of burning.

“Residents should never dispose of cigarette butts in any sort of vegetation or from vehicle windows,” the WFPS said in a news release Tuesday night. “Butts should also never be put out in planter pots.”

Another blaze at scene of fatal fire

8:50 AM

A Logan Avenue house will be demolished after the second fire there in the past six months.

Fire crews were sent to the vacant two-storey house in the 700 block of Logan at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday and fought the blaze from outside, declaring it extinguished at 3:11 a.m.

Crews evacuated a neighbouring house as a precaution. Residents were able to return to their home after the fire was put out.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A fatal fire occurred in the same home on Nov. 6. Patrolling police officers noticed the fire, found a 69-year-old woman inside and helped her get out. She was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Officers were unable to find a 45-year-old man who was still in the home. He was later found dead inside.

The Winnipeg Police Service said at the time that the major crimes unit was investigating.

Commission launches surveys on literacy education

10:09 AM

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission wants to hear about the schooling experiences of students who have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having a reading disability.

As part of the Right to Read Manitoba project, it published several 30-minute surveys to collect feedback from learners, caregivers and teachers across the province this week. The polls can be found here.

“We experienced some technical difficulties, given the length and complexity of the three surveys, but are pleased that they have now launched and will remain open until May 31, 2023,” said Karen Sharma, executive director of the commission.

Sharma said there are plans to host public meetings to follow up on the subject in June.

Scheifele won’t play in Game 5, Ehlers might

2:37 PM

LAS VEGAS — Nikolaj Ehlers’ return to the Winnipeg Jets lineup Thursday for a must-win Game 5 is a possibility, however, Mark Scheifele’s participation is a definitive no.

That was the word from Jets head coach Rick Bowness after practice today in Sin City.

The Jets and Vegas Golden Knights meet Thursday at 9 p.m. (CBC). The Golden Knights lead the best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series 3-1 and can send Winnipeg packing.

Ehlers has been sidelined with an injury since April 11 in Minnesota, the second-last game of the NHL club’s regular-season schedule. He’s listed as a game-time decision.

Scheifele suffered an upper-body injury when he tumbled to the boards after missing on a breakaway try in the first period of Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 4.

Bowness said the veteran centre might be good to go Saturday back in Winnipeg — if there is a Game 6.

Valour FC loses defender to injury

3:55 PM

Matthew Chandler won’t be available to Valour FC for an extended period after the towering defender suffered a knee (ACL) injury in practice last week.

Winnipeg’s pro soccer squad did not specify a timeframe for his return to the pitch.

Chandler came off the bench to play a portion of Valour’s season-opener April 16 in Toronto — a 2-1 road win over York United — and then played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat to the host TSS Rovers (Burnaby, B.C.) April 19 in a Canadian championship primer.

The 23-year-old from Toronto, listed at 6-foot-6, signed with Valour earlier this month after finishing his NCAA college career with the Wisconsin Badgers. He had spent three years at St. John’s University (Queens, N.Y.) before moving to the Madison, Wis., college.