Two in critical condition in morning fire

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This article was published 01/11/2023 (1049 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two people were rushed to hospital in critical condition after a house fire in the River Heights area on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were sent to the one-and-a-half storey home in the 200 block of Renfrew Street at 10:35 a.m. and declared the fire under control at 11:15 a.m.

Occupants of the house exited before fire crews arrived, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said. Two people were transported to hospital in critical condition, and a third was transported in stable condition.

The city’s animal services agency responded to provide care for the residents’ dogs.

Shortly after that fire was declared under control, crews were sent to a fire in a one-and-a-half storey home on Bond Street in Transcona at 11:20 a.m. Crews worked to protect neighbouring homes and declared the fire under control at 12:08 p.m.

The lone occupant of the house exited with one dog. Firefighters found two other dogs dead in the house.

“The house sustained significant damage and is expected to be a complete loss,” the WFPS said in a news release.

A fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building near the intersection of Pembina Highway and Awasisak Mēskanow earlier Monday.

Fire crews went to the seven-storey building on Plaza Drive at 7:48 a.m.

Extra crews were sent to the high-rise, and the fire was declared under control at 8:42 a.m.

“Preliminary observations suggest the fire was accidental, caused by an appliance failure,” the WFPS said.

Some residents exited the building, while others remained in their suites. Firefighters helped several occupants get out. A Winnipeg Transit bus was sent to the scene to provide shelter for evacuees.

One person was assessed at the scene by paramedics.

Crews found several pets in the building and took them to safety.

Crews ventilated the building afterward. Residents from the first four floors were expected to be able to return to their suites later Monday, the WFPS said that afternoon.

“The upper three floors of the building sustained more extensive smoke and fire damage,” the WFPS said. “Until the damage is remedied, residents living on those floors are not able to return to their suites.”

Crews helped residents of the upper floors retrieve essential personal items, the WFPS said.

The city’s emergency social services team was deployed to help one family find temporary accommodations.