News briefs for Thursday, November 13, 2025

Charge laid in apartment arson

10:33 AM

A man was arrested Tuesday after an arson at an apartment building hours earlier caused an estimated $100,000 in damage.

The fire at the five-storey building on the 100 block of Clarke Street started shortly after 10:30 p.m. Monday. Crews found a fire in one of the suites and declared it under control at about 11 p.m.

Firefighters helped some residents get out of the building. Damages were primarily contained to the suite, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said earlier this week.

Police arrested a 31-year-old man shortly after 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. He has been charged with arson with disregard for human life and was also wanted on a warrant for failing to attend court, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday. He was detained in custody.

Man arrested had cut ankle monitor off 

10:04 AM

A man who cut his ankle monitor off while on probation was later arrested with an illegal gun, police say.

Officers stopped a taxi on the 500 block of Selkirk Avenue for a Highway Traffic Act offence at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Wednesday.

Police learned a passenger was wanted for breach of probation and then found a loaded sawed-off shotgun, a magazine with ammunition, a folding knife and seven packages of illegal cigarettes in a duffle bag.

The man, 41, and another passenger — a 25-year-old woman — are facing charges. The man was detained in custody, while the woman was released on an undertaking.

Vacant home goes up in flames for fourth time since August

9:22 AM

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

Crews have been at the scene since about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday.

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 Thursday.

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. The two-storey house is 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.