Block heaters linked to three weekend fires

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This article was published 05/01/2025 (284 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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.