Everyone in a Winnipeg home is safe after a fire on Wednesday afternoon that firefighters say was started by a cigarette butt.
At 1:34 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to reports of a fire in a bungalow in the 100 block of Ridley Street.
At the scene, crews saw heavy flames and smoke coming from the house. Firefighters attacked the fire from the outside until it was safe to enter and continue fighting the fire inside the house. Crews declared the fire under control at 2:05 p.m.
All occupants safely self-evacuated before crews arrived. No injuries were reported.
No damage estimates are available. Preliminary observations suggest the cause of the fire was accidental and related to improper disposal of smoking materials.
Avoid a fire by following these tips:
- Dispose of cigarette butts in an ashtray or deep, wide metal container filled partway with sand or water.
- If you dispose of butts in the trash, douse them with water first.
- Never throw a butt from a car window or throw it on the ground, especially near grass, plants or anything that can catch on fire like a deck or shed.
- Never put out a butt in a planter. Potting soil contains organic materials that can smolder and catch fire, even hours later.