As Winnipeg fire fatalities climb, calls multiply for more prevention
Posted June 2, 2026 3:58 pm.
Last Updated June 2, 2026 4:02 pm.
At least 12 people have lost their lives in fires since the beginning of 2026 in Winnipeg.
With the number of fire fatalities increasing, so too are the concerns from the union representing Winnipeg firefighters.
“A lot of these deaths are preventable and we need to get ahead of it,” said Adam Smithson, the treasurer for United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW).
Smithson says if the trend in Winnipeg persists, the city will reach five times the national average. He says the numbers are concerning and is once again calling on the city to implement recommendations from the internal report carried out six years ago.
“For more than a decade, Winnipeg has recorded some of the highest fatalities in fires in Canada, often double the national average,” he said. “And according to the data, the gap is widening.
“The numbers are not just a result of bad luck or random chance; fire does follow a very established pattern.”
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Smithson highlighted the need for more staff as the increase in call volume is putting a strain on a system that is already qualified as under-resourced.
“The fire death leaves a total heartbreak behind it. Families lose loved ones, friends lose life-long connections, communities losing neighbours and firefighters carry the weight of these tragedies long after the fire is out,” he said.
Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association, says his community experiences an increased number of fires, which is concerning for residents there.
“My concern, always, when one of those houses goes on fire is people next door,” Warren said.
He believes fire-prevention measures are crucial.
“I’d love it if we could have the fire department or somebody from the City of Winnipeg go ahead and inspect these properties on a regular basis,” Warren added.
The WFPS deputy chief of fire rescue operations and training, Scott Wilkinson, admits there’s a need for more response and prevention resources, but he says a collaborative approach to address the root cause is also key.
“We certainly could use more resources to put further efforts in these areas, but unfortunately, we don’t have jurisdiction to go into single-family homes,” he said. “And single-family residential homes are one of the leading areas where we are seeing a lot of the fatalities unfortunately.”
Wilkinson believes in many instances, drugs and homelessness are main drivers for high fatality rates.
“What we are seeing unfortunately and tragically is that in many cases, a lot of these deaths can be related back to these issues of poverty and mental health and substance abuse, which are putting more people at risk,” Wilkinson said.
