City departments working together to reduce neighbourhood fire hazards

Winnipeg, MB - A number of City of Winnipeg departments have been working together to find ways to improve safety and reduce the number of arson related fires in our community.

"The safety of our residents is our highest priority, and we want to ensure that neighbourhoods are clean and safe for everyone," said Mayor Scott Gillingham. "With the number of fires trending upward over the past couple of years, we are taking steps to remove hazards in our community with the hope that we will begin to see the number of fires decline."

The budget for back lane cleanup was increased by 50% this year, which means neighbourhoods at a high risk for arson due to excess debris will be cleaned bi-weekly from April to October, along with monthly clean up from November to March. The City will also continue to perform emergency clean up on an as needed basis.

If residents see excess garbage in a back lane, or witness illegal dumping, they are encouraged to report it to 311.

In addition, City Council recently made changes to the Vacant Building By-Law, with the goal of reducing the number of vacant buildings, fires, and criminal activity associated with them.

Among the changes is a new standard for boarding up vacant buildings, using thicker plywood and bracing to cover doors and windows and fasteners to make the boards more difficult to remove. These changes aim to prevent break-ins and improve the security of vacant buildings, which should cut down on calls for service by Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS), Winnipeg Police Service, and By-law Enforcement Officers.

If residents see someone entering a building that has been boarded up and appears to be vacant, they are encouraged to call 311/911 so the building can be inspected and secured.

More information is available on the City's website about problem properties and vacant buildings.

Fire response data
Today, WFPS released updated data which shows a marked increase in the number of fires in recent years.

In 2023, the WFPS responded to 3,389 fires - an increase of approximately 33% over 2022 and an 87% increase since 2019. The majority of the increase in 2023 is attributable to outdoor fires - for example, brush/grass, trash containers, and miscellaneous outdoor property.

Updated data on fire responses, broken down by classification and date (up to the end of June 2024), is now available on Open Data:

• Fire Response Data
• Vacant Property Fires

The WFPS's Community Risk Reduction branch provides public education for schools, community groups, and at special events. The branch also completes fire inspections in thousands of buildings annually.

For more information, see: winnipeg.ca/fireprevention.

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