North End apartment building a total loss after fire; 20 residents displaced

Winnipeg firefighters were expected to remain at the scene of a North End blaze throughout much of Sunday, with an apartment building expected to be a complete loss.

WFPS crews were called to a three-storey  building on Mountain Avenue near Aikins Street around 7:15 a.m.

Crews arrived to find heavy black smoke and flames coming from the building.

“An interior, offensive attack was initially launched, but due to deteriorating conditions, crews were forced to exit the building and transition to a defensive fire attack using aerial ladders and hand lines,” WFPS said in a news release.

A WFPS drone was helping locate hot spots using aerial and thermal imaging.

One evacuee was assessed and treated by paramedics; transport to hospital was not required.

A neighbouring home was evacuated as a precaution, Winnipeg Fire says. Roughly 20 displaced residents needed temporary housing.

Mountain Avenue was closed between Salter Street and Charles Street Sunday afternoon. Aikins Street was closed between College Avenue and St. John’s Avenue.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Earlier Sunday, crews were called to a vacant two-storey duplex on Pritchard Avenue. The fire was declared under control shortly after 7:30 a.m.

The cause of that fire is also under investigation.