Winnipeg fire captain chokes up talking about risks to crew

Fire Capt. Rob Labossiere was facing one of the hottest blazes in his 26-year career and had to make the gut-wrenching call to send firefighters into those flames to save two sisters.

"They all have families they've got to get to [afterwards], but it was a risk we needed to take," Labossiere said on Monday, his eyes tearing and words getting choked in his throat.

"When we make those decisions, we're forcing those guys to basically put their lives on the line."

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The sisters, one in a wheelchair, were saved, while the three firefighters who went into the Wolseley home were treated in hospital for burns to their necks and faces. They are still receiving outpatient treatment and will be off for some time, healing from the psychological injuries, too.

"It's a very lucky situation," Labossiere said, describing how he was 60 feet away and still needed to seek shelter behind a bus shack so he could call in more crews. By the time the fire was out, 25-27 fire trucks were called out.

• Winnipeg woman trapped with sister in wheelchair as massive fire surrounds house

The blaze broke out around 3:45 a.m. Saturday, devouring a Winnipeg condo complex that was under construction at the corner of Maryland Street and Westminster Avenue, while spreading to two neighbouring homes as well.

Initially the call came in as a vacant building, so just a single crew was sent. That's when it was learned the two women were in a neighbouring home, trapped at the front door.

They were unable to leave using the wheelchair ramp at the back because of the heat. At the front, "flames were rolling out across the porch" and the walls were at risk of collapsing, Labossiere said.

RAW: Captain Rob Labossiere gives update on injured firefighters

9 years ago

Duration 2:14

Captain Rob Labossiere, incident commander at the Wolseley blaze, gives the media an update on the injured firefighters.

"As firefighters … we prepare for the worst-case scenario, and that scenario was one that we were asking our members to risk their lives," he said.

"We never would have gone in if it was vacant," he added. "But we'll risk a lot to save a lot."

Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, said almost all firefighting resources from the downtown and surrounding area were used at that scene and at a nearby garage fire.

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"We could have lost that whole block," Forrest said, lauding the work of Labossiere's crews and those of acting Lt. Robert Campbell, who was the aerial officer on scene.

Forrest talked about heavy "water curtains" being used to protect the 104-year-old Westminster United Church across the street from the burning condo.

The heat was something most people can't even imagine, he said, describing it as "upwards of 1,000 C."

He called the fire arson fuelled by an accelerant combined with modern building materials that cause buildings to "go off like a torch."

They thought it was a vacant building, "but they get there and all hell is breaking loose," Forrest said.

Other than the three firefighters who were burned and a fourth who suffered some leg and back injuries, the battle was a success.

Once those men feel ready, Forrest would like to reunite them with the sisters, who he said "are now part of our family."