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A fire early Saturday morning at a commercial and residential building in the 200 block of Atlantic Avenue has claimed the lives of two people, with Winnipeg police now treating the incident as a potential homicide.
Around 2:49 a.m. on September 14, 2024, crews from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) arrived to find heavy smoke and flames engulfing the three-storey mixed-use building. Initially, firefighters launched an offensive attack on the blaze, but deteriorating conditions forced them to switch to defensive tactics, using aerial ladders and handlines to douse the flames. A drone was deployed to locate hotspots.
During their search, firefighters rescued two adults from one of the suites—49-year-old Geda Wodisso and 38-year-old Zenabu Gula—who were transported to hospital in critical condition but later pronounced dead.
Two other adults were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, and one was taken to the hospital in unstable condition.
The fire is considered suspicious, and the Winnipeg Police Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation. No arrests have been made, and authorities are urging anyone with information or surveillance footage to come forward.
Other residents of the building had evacuated before WFPS arrived, and a neighbouring building was also evacuated as a precaution. A Winnipeg Transit bus provided temporary shelter for the displaced residents, while the City’s Emergency Social Services team worked to arrange accommodations.
Manitoba Hydro responded to the scene, turning off gas and electricity as a precaution, leaving some nearby homes without power on Saturday morning.
Significant damage was reported to the structure, and crews remained on the scene throughout the morning to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
If you have any information, you are encouraged to contact Winnipeg Police at 204-986-6508 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS.