Winnipeg, MB - Just after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews responded to a fire alarm with the smell of smoke reported in a day nursery in the Elmwood Winter Club at 75 Brazier Street. A large initial response was sent due to the type of occupancy. First-in crews found smoke coming from a furnace vent. All 51 occupants of the daycare (41 children and 10 adults) had safely self-evacuated, and were provided refuge in a nearby school.
A rapid interior attack quickly extinguished a small fire in the furnace room. A second engine crew set up large fans to ventilate the smoke from the building. Other fire apparatus were cleared. Paramedic crews and supervisors examined all 51 occupants, and determined that 18 children and five adults required further assessment at hospital. All 23 patients were securely transported to Children’s Hospital and Health Sciences Centre aboard the Major Incident Response Vehicle (MIRV).
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and damage estimates are pending. Air quality measurements were verified, and the daycare is open today.
The WFPS would like to commend daycare staff who ensured the safe and prompt evacuation and accounting of all occupants, which helped ensure a positive outcome to this incident.