Winnipeg firefighters battle blazes believed to have been caused by faulty fireplace, candle, smoking

Winnipeg firefighters were called to three different fires over a span of just a few hours that involved a malfunctioning fireplace, a candle and smoking, with one person sent to hospital.

The first fire happened just after 3 p.m. Friday ata bungalow on Killington Bay,just east of Gateway Road in the NorthKildonan area.

Residents were able to get out ofthe house before crews arrived, the city said in a Friday evening news release. Oneperson was assessed by paramedics at the scene andtaken to hospital in stable condition. Crews also located a dead cat inside the house.

The fire was under control shortly before 4 p.m., the city said. There was smoke and water damage to the house, but no damage estimate is yet available.

A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was accidental and related to smoking, the city said. It reminded residents to be careful when smoking, includingfully extinguishing cigarettes and matches in an ashtray or deep metal container.

It also said cigarette butts should never be thrown from balconiesor disposed of near any vegetation such as grass, leaves, brush or a plant pot, noting that pottingsoil has a mix of combustible organic matter that can allow smoking material to smolder for hours.

A few hours after that fire, crews were called to another ata bungalow on the 2100 block of King Edward Street, in the Tyndall Park area.

Crews arrived just before 9 p.m. and had the fire out shortly after 9:30 p.m., the city said in a Saturday news release. Once again, residents were able to get out of the home safely and no injuries were reported.

That fire is also believed to be accidental, andcaused by a malfunctioning fireplace, prompting the city to remind people to keep anything that can burn at least one metre away from furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and portable space heaters, and to make sure furnaces are professionally installed and inspected yearly.

The city also recommends that fireplaces have a sturdy screen to stop any sparks from flying into a room.

A third fire broke out around5:30 a.m Saturday, at a two-storey duplex in the 1000 block of Cavalier Drive in the northwest Winnipeg Crestview area. That fire was put out shorty after 6 a.m. and noinjuries were reported.

In that case, preliminaryinvestigation suggests the fire was accidental and caused by a candle.

The city says lit candles should never be left unattended, and should be keptout of the reach of children and pets.