Vacant home in Winnipeg's North End catches fire

A vacanthome in Winnipeg's North Endcaught fire Monday afternoon, the city says.

Fire crews responded to the blaze onStella Avenue, between Salter and Powers streets, at 3:14 p.m. Monday.

Smoke and flames were coming out of the one-and-a-half storey structure when crews arrived on scene, according to a release from the city Monday afternoon. Firefighters were unable to enter the building due to unsafe conditions.

The fire was declared under control at approximately 5:10 p.m., according to the city.

A search of the structure discoveredno occupants, and no injuries have been reported.

The fire remains under investigation, and damage estimates are not yet available.

Crews remain on sceneextinguishing hotspots.

Stella Avenue and one southbound lane on Salter Street have been impacted, and residents are asked to avoid the area.

SEED Winnipeg sits right beside the home that caught fire, and itsco-director Louise Simbandumwesaidthis marks the fourth time emergency crews have been called to a fire at that residence.

She calls it a very concerning trend, and something the organization is keeping its eye on.

"Obviously abandoned properties are a magnet for fire, and so what we would like to see is thriving neighbourhoods where people own their own houses, where there's really vibrant economic development,"Simbandumwesaid.

She would like to see a greater focus and more resources put behind the the city's strategy for addressing poverty, including at the provincial level to create more affordable housing.

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