Vacant House Engulfed in Flames in Winnipeg’s North End, Nearby Buildings Evacuated for Safety
A dramatic scene unfolded in Winnipeg’s North End late Sunday night as a vacant house went up in flames, prompting emergency responders to evacuate surrounding buildings for public safety. The incident, which occurred in the 300 block of Pritchard Avenue, marks yet another fire involving an unoccupied structure in a neighbourhood frequently plagued by such events.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) received the emergency call around 11:30 p.m. and responded swiftly to the scene. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy smoke and active flames pouring from the house. Firefighters immediately launched an aggressive attack, working under challenging conditions to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent homes.
As a precautionary measure, residents in nearby buildings were temporarily evacuated. No injuries have been reported, but officials confirmed that the property was fully engulfed by the time crews arrived, and the structure has been deemed a complete loss.
According to the City of Winnipeg, the house was unoccupied at the time of the blaze. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, arson has not been ruled out, given the history of suspicious fires in the area. Fire investigators remained on site into the early morning hours, working to determine what sparked the flames.
The North End has seen an uptick in fires involving vacant properties in recent years. Many community members are calling for more proactive measures from city officials to address the growing number of derelict and abandoned buildings, which they say pose significant safety and health risks.
Local advocacy groups are urging the city to enforce stricter regulations on vacant properties and invest in preventive measures such as surveillance, increased patrols, and accelerated demolition timelines for uninhabitable structures. These incidents not only put firefighters and residents at risk but also strain city resources and lower neighbourhood morale.
City crews remained on the scene overnight to monitor for flare-ups and begin cleanup efforts. The affected area has been cordoned off, and traffic was temporarily rerouted.
Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact Winnipeg police or Crime Stoppers. Updates are expected as the investigation continues.
Source : Swifteradio.com
