Three sent to hospital after Manitoba Housing complex blaze

Fire rips through apartment Josh Crabb on a massive fire that tore through a Winnipeg apartment building leaving several people homeless.

Three people were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being hurt in a fire which tore through a Dufferin Avenue apartment.

Fire Chief John Lane with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said firefighters were called to the blaze at around 1:00 p.m.

Lane said the fire started in one of the units of the Manitoba Housing complex and then spread to the rest of the building.

"It does appear that the suite where it started the doors were left open when it was initially detected and all indications are that added to the rapidity of the spread of the fire," said Lane.

Lane said all three people who were hurt were inside the suite where the fire initially started.

Seven units and 20 -25 residents who live in the complex were affected.

Tenants in nearby apartments were also forced out.

Jessica Thomas lived with her four children in the apartment building that was damaged in the fire.

She was at college when the blaze broke out and none of her kids were home but she tells CTV News she's devastated by what happened.

Individuals affected by the fire will be placed in hotels until alternate arrangements or a return to the building can be arranged.

Some tenants have chosen to make their own alternate arrangements for housing.

Lane said the fire does not appear to be suspicious but couldn't provide an exact cause.

Lane said there is extensive damage to both the upper and lower suites but said it’s up to insurance adjusters to determine if it's a complete loss.

The status of the building and extent of damage will be determined Wednesday when the site is accessible.

- With a report by Josh Crabb