A residential fire is always a scary and dangerous thing, people might get hurt or killed, especially children and elderly citizens since they are not able to react fast and evacuate the building by themselves.
Just yesterday, January 21st a big residential fire occurred in one of the buildings on Maryland Street. Firefighters were called, once crews entered the three-story building, they were forced to leave and move to a defensive attack. One nearby home was evacuated as a precaution. Crews were on scene well into the evening and used the WFPS drone to assist in fighting the fire.
Last Monday, four people were taken to the hospital and 40 people were evacuated after a fire in the building. The investigation still continues, Fire Department investigators are working to determine what is the cause of both fires was.
Unfortunately, residential fires in Winnipeg happen quite often, but unlike in this case, caused by the electrical problem, many of those fires caused by residents, who in many cases were under drug influence at a time of incidents.
Last Monday, January 14th a fire broke out in the Maryland Street area, just a day after the fire on Ellis Avenue.
According to the company, which manages both facilities, two large fires in apartments in Winnipeg`s the West End were caused by drug use.
“Both of these fires were drug-related,” said Mike Romani, president of Armor, a company that manages 626 Ellice Avenue and 426 Maryland Street. Romani says he believes that one of the fires was specifically related to the use of methamphetamine.
“Both fires began with the burning of the couch,” he said. “Both tenants organized parties in apartments, and according to reports, they [set fire] to couches.”
Dozens of people still have no shelter after these fires. One building was completely freed from tenants and in the other, there are several apartments that need to be renovated.
Romani said it was not the first fire started by someone who used drugs, but this is a rapidly growing problem.