‘They shouldn’t be living here’: third fire hits troubled Manitoba Housing apartment block
Residents of a North End Manitoba Housing apartment block with a long history of trouble say they’re shaken after the building was hit with its third fire in eight months […]
Three fires have struck a troubled Manitoba Housing apartment block in North End Winnipeg within a short period, with residents expressing their alarm and dissatisfaction with the current living conditions. The building at 145 Powers St. was evacuated on Friday night after a fire broke out at around 7:45 p.m., alarming longtime resident Sharon Markwell who initially thought it was a false alarm.
Smoke filled the hallways, forcing her to evacuate with her pets, who were safely rescued by a firefighter. The city’s Emergency Social Services team provided assistance for displaced tenants, while one person received medical attention.
This is the third fire in eight months at the 12-storey building, which has a history of drug use and crime problems. The property faced criticism for drug-related issues until the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority suspended its home-care services inside the building in March due to safety concerns. Tenants have complained about gang activity, verbal threats, and difficulty accessing stairwells, leading to the resumption of in-house home-care services in May.
Markwell and other longtime tenants hope that the recent security improvements and increased police presence will bring about lasting change, but some, like tenant Sandra Auger, remain skeptical, blaming drug use for the recurring fires. She suggests stricter requirements for individuals entering the supportive housing units to prevent drug-related issues.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
