Winnipeg, MB – At 2:14 a.m. on August 13, 2020, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a fire at a one-and-a-half-storey house in the 100 block of Barber Street.
When crews arrived on scene, they encountered heavy smoke and a well-involved fire on the deck of the house. An attack was launched and the fire was very quickly brought under control. The deck was destroyed and the adjoining house suffered damage to the exterior siding.
The occupants of the house self-evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. No injuries were reported.
The fire was determined to be accidental, caused by the improper disposal of a cigarette butt.
Residents are reminded they should never use a plant pot as an ashtray. Potting soil is a mix of dirt and a number of combustible organic materials such as peat moss, shredded wood and minerals which are combustible. When a butt is put into a planter, it can smolder for several hours. Once the container heats up, it can crack, giving the smoldering material oxygen and the opportunity to spread to other combustibles such as decks, balconies, walls, etc.
As conditions in Winnipeg are very dry at this time, residents should take extra care when disposing of butts. Smoking material should always be extinguished in a proper ashtray or deep metal container. Butts should also never be thrown from balconies, car windows, or disposed of near any vegetation such as grass or brush.
At 4:41 a.m. on August 13, 20202, the WFPS responded to reports of a fire in a five-storey parkade in the 300-block of Smith Street. Upon arrival on scene, crews encountered heavy black smoke and flames coming from a vehicle. The fire was quickly extinguished before it extended to additional vehicles.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No damage estimates are currently available.