News briefs for Sunday, January 5, 2025

Crews respond to fire on Burnell Street

12:57 PM

An electrical malfunction is being blamed for a fire in a two-storey residence in the 500 block of Burnell Street.

The fire was reported at about 9:23 p.m. Jan. 4. All occupants got out safely being crews arrived and no injuries were reported. No damage estimates were available.

Block heaters linked to three weekend fires

12:52 PM

The City of Winnipeg is warning residents to check for damage to their vehicles’ block-heater cords before plugging them in after fire crews responded to three fires linked to block heaters on Saturday.

The third fire of the day happened at about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at a single-family home in the 600 block of David Street. A vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived, and the fire had spread to the house and attached garage. Crews fought the fire and declared it under control at about 10:04 p.m. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates were available.

The public is being advised not to plug in vehicles inside an attached or detached garage because fire can quickly spread to other homes and structures. Don’t cover extension cords because then heat can’t escape. Don’t run the cord through snow or water on the ground. Have a mechanic inspect the block heater if you’ve accidentally driven away with the cords still plugged in.

Two arrested after stolen-vehicle police chase

12:40 PM

A 30-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman have been charged after allegedly driving dangerously in a stolen vehicle in north Winnipeg Saturday night.

North District officers with the Winnipeg Police Service saw a vehicle speeding and travelling erratically in the area of King Street and Flora Avenue at about 10:45 p.m. Jan. 4. The WPS helicopter tracked the stolen vehicle to a casino parkade on McPhillips Street. Two people were taken into custody after a short foot chase.

A 24-year-old woman whose name hasn’t been publicly released faces a charge of breaching curfew conditions. A 30-year-old man, Jonas Donat Sabiston, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and under $5,000, dangerous driving, and driving while prohibited.

Man charged after ramming two Winnipeg police vehicles

12:31 PM

A 25-year-old Saskatchewan man has been charged after allegedly using a stolen vehicle to break in to a dealership lot and then ramming two police vehicles trying to get away.

At about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 5, the Winnipeg Police Service responded after security personnel saw an individual in a  truck with Saskatchewan licence plates enter an auto dealership lot in the 3900 block of Portage Ave. and break into a construction trailer on site. When pursued by police, the suspect vehicle rammed two police vehicles in an attempt to get away, the police service stated in a news release Sunday. No one was hurt in those collisions, police stated.

The man is from Lampman, Sask., and the vehicle he was driving was determined to be stolen from Moosejaw on Dec. 31. His name hasn’t been publicly released. He remains in custody and has been charged with three counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, flight from a peace officer, dangerous driving, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, breaking and entering, possession of break-in instruments, and possession of methamphetamine.