Winnipeg firefighters battle 4 different fires in 12 hours

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service has dealt with four different fires in the space of 12 hours.

The most recent of the four was at the western edge of downtown Winnipeg, in a vacant home on Spence Street south of Cumberland Avenue, on Tuesday morning.

Firefighters went to the home shortly after 6:30 a.m. and tried to fight the fire from inside the house, but had to retreat because of the building's deteriorating condition, a news release from the City of Winnipeg said.

They used an aerial ladder to spray the building with water, protecting neighbouring homes from damage.

An emergency demolition of the house was done to allow firefighters to gain access to the remaining small fires.

The cause of the fire isn't known.

The first of the four fires happened less than 12 hours earlier, when firefighters went to a fire in the William Whyte neighbourhood on Monday around 7:20 p.m.

Firefighters couldn't safely enter the two-storey home on Powers Street, so they tackled the fire from outside, using an aerial ladder.

As a precaution, two neighbouring homes were evacuated.

No injuries were reported.

The fire was declared under control nearly two hours later. The cause is under investigation.

As crews fought the fire on Powers Street, other firefighters were called to a three-storey apartment building on Morrow Avenue, southeast of Fermor Avenue and St. Anne's Road, around 8:10 p.m.

Winnipeg Transit buses provided shelter to residents after the building was evacuated.

Early observations suggest that the cause of the fire may be related to cooking, the news release said.

A third fire, on Pritchard Avenue west of McGregor Street, was quickly put out on Monday evening.

Residents had already left the building when firefighters arrived around 8:15 p.m. The fire was out 10 minutes later.

The cause of that fire is still under investigation.

In the news release, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service recommends having a frequently practised home escape plan and advises people to learn about cooking safety and ways to prevent kitchen fires.