Man charged with manslaughter after allegedly setting West Broadway house on fire, killing man
Posted February 16, 2026 2:23 pm.
Last Updated February 17, 2026 8:45 pm.
A 68-year-old man who was critically injured in a house fire in West Broadway on Thursday has died of his injuries, and Winnipeg police say the blaze was deliberately set.
The Winnipeg Police Service says Gregory George Thomas lost his life in the aftermath of the evening house fire on Young Street and Broadway that authorities allege was deliberately set.
BACKGROUND: 3 injured as house was destroyed by evening fire in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood
Michael Patrick Gordon, 40, was charged with manslaughter and two counts of arson with disregard for human life. He was detained in custody. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
“This is the third fatal fire in just over a month for Winnipeggers and for Winnipeg firefighters and our condolences go out to the latest victim of this fire and the family,” said Nick Kasper, the president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) union.
Thomas and two others, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital following the blaze at the two-and-a-half storey house.
Thomas was in critical condition, while a second person who was in the home and the firefighter were in stable condition.
The firefighters’ union says intentionally set fires create additional dangers for crews, who often don’t know what conditions they’re walking into when they arrive.
“There are times when they use incendiary devices where these individuals are trying to get the fire burning as hot and quickly as they can and those create additional hazards for our members,” Kasper explained. “Without a doubt intentionally set fires create additional challenges.”
Kasper says while the city recently approved additional firefighter positions, he says it’s not enough and more needs to be done.
“The city needs to turn its focus to prevention, investigation, public education and make sure those vital resources are in place to prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place,” he said.
“We have among the highest rate of property and life lost to fire structure fires anywhere in Canada.”
–With files from Mitchell Ringos
