{"id":710883,"date":"2026-06-02T22:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T22:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/710883\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T22:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T22:05:10","slug":"as-winnipeg-fire-fatalities-climb-calls-multiply-for-more-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/710883\/","title":{"rendered":"As Winnipeg fire fatalities climb, calls multiply for more prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

At least 12 people have lost their lives in fires since the beginning of 2026 in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

With the number of fire fatalities increasing, so too are the concerns from the union representing Winnipeg firefighters.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of these deaths are preventable and we need to get ahead of it,\u201d said Adam Smithson, the treasurer for United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW).<\/p>\n

\"\"Aftermath of a fire that killed two people on Agnes Street. Seen here Feb. 10, 2026. (Koby Mitchell, CityNews)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than a decade, Winnipeg has recorded some of the highest fatalities in fires in Canada, often double the national average,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd according to the data, the gap is widening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe numbers are not just a result of bad luck or random chance; fire does follow a very established pattern.\u201d<\/p>\n

LATEST: Woman, 44, killed in Weston house fire: Winnipeg police<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"The house on Trent Avenue where one person died in a fire on March 16, 2026. The home seen here the following day. (Mike Sudoma, CityNews)<\/p>\n

Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association, says his community experiences an increased number of fires, which is concerning for residents there.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy concern, always, when one of those houses goes on fire is people next door,\u201d Warren said.<\/p>\n

He believes fire-prevention measures are crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d 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,\u201d Warren added.<\/p>\n

The WFPS deputy chief of fire rescue operations and training, Scott Wilkinson, admits there\u2019s a need for more response and prevention resources, but he says a collaborative approach to address the root cause is also key.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe certainly could use more resources to put further efforts in these areas, but unfortunately, we don\u2019t have jurisdiction to go into single-family homes,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd single-family residential homes are one of the leading areas where we are seeing a lot of the fatalities unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilkinson believes in many instances, drugs and homelessness are main drivers for high fatality rates.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat 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,\u201d Wilkinson said.<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

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