Cold weather hampered fire crews Monday night as they battled a blaze in Winnipeg’s St. John’s neighbourhood.

Just after 6 p.m., a blaze broke out in a two-and-a-half-storey home in the 300 block of Bannerman Avenue. 

When crews arrived, thick smoke and flames already engulfed the home, forcing firefighters to fight the blaze from outside due to its intensity. They eventually made their way inside when conditions improved. 

Due to the freezing temperatures, crews were forced to rotate to ensure they could take breaks from the cold to warm up.

Everyone in the home escaped safely before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported. 

As a precaution, both neighbouring homes were evacuated, and a Winnipeg Transit bus was brought in to provide shelter to evacuees.

The home sustained significant damage, and the City of Winnipeg’s Emergency Social Services team was brought in to provide temporary support to displaced residents.

 

There is no word on a cause at this time. 

Fire officials continue to investigate.

Fire engulfs home under construction

Meanwhile, a second fire early Tuesday morning caused significant damage to a home under construction in the Highland Pointe area

Just after 4 a.m., crews were called to a vacant, two-storey house under construction on Plover Place.

Flames were pouring from the home when crews arrived. A defensive attack was launched, and the fire was considered under control at around 5:19 a.m.

No injuries were reported. 

This is the second fire in just over a week on the same street. 

On Feb. 16, a different vacant, two-storey house under construction on Plover Place went up in flames. 

A ‘mayday’ was briefly declared after a firefighter fell through an opening in the floor, but crews quickly rescued them. The firefighter was assessed and, fortunately, was not injured.

The cause of both fires remains under investigation.