Battery charger blamed for North End house fire

A battery charger is to blame for a house fire that damaged a North End home. 

The blaze broke out shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday in a one-and-a-half-storey home in the 400 block of Magnus Avenue. 

Smoke was billowing from the home when crews arrived, and an interior fire attack was launched. 

Crews were able to get the fire under control about half an hour later. 

All of the residents of the home escaped before crews arrived, and no injuries were reported. 

Preliminary observations suggest the fire was accidental, caused by a failure in a lithium-ion battery or charger.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is reminding people to use caution when charging anything with a battery and to only use the battery and charging cables that came with the device.

They are also encouraging people to charge items on a hard surface and to unplug the item with it is fully charged.