Winnipeg starting to recover costs from vacant house fires
Posted May 3, 2023 5:06 pm.
Last Updated May 3, 2023 6:30 pm.
The City of Winnipeg has for the first time, recouped some of the costs to put out fires at vacant properties and has plenty of other invoices out, including one for over $100,000.
Housing Advocate Sel Burrows has been vocal about the vacant home problem in Winnipeg for years. It’s a problem that’s progressively gotten worse.
Data from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service shows that in 2015 – there were only 9 fires in vacant buildings throughout the year. That rose steadily to 41 in 2020, 64 in 2021, 84 in 2022, and we’re now on track for more than 90 in 2023.
“This is a sign that the city cares about the inner city. It’s not the end-all, but it’s a wonderful first step,” said Burrows. “It’s a step in the right direction – it’s actually really exciting.”
Invoices for these fire service charges first went out on March 30th. One invoice sent out on April 25th is for $104,000.
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“That’s certainly a concern for us because these vacant home fires impact community safety for the neighbours, and they’re an impact for the safety of our personnel responding to the incidents as well,” said Assistant Chief Scott Wilkinson, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.
“In that particular instance, it was a large structure that spread to an adjoining structure, and there was an elongated scene time. The fees are based on the fee schedule from the City of Winnipeg, and their hourly charges per apparatus – there are a lot of apparatus there for many hours, hence in that particular case, quite a large number.”
Burrows says he’s thrilled the city is taking action, and is thanking Winnipeg Fire for their work. He says there are future changes coming to help tackle the vacant home problem – which Wilkinson alluded to.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work with our various departments through the property problem committee with the city, and we have some other initiatives coming forward from PP&D and community bylaw, we’re hoping that collectively we’ll start to make an impact on this but it will take some time unfortunately,” said Wilkinson.
There have been 32 vacant home fires in Winnipeg up until April 14.
