Wolseley neighbours reflect on multi-building blaze at community event

Between 40 and 50 neighbours came together at Westminster United Church on Saturday to reflect on a devastating fire that destroyed three buildings in Wolseleylast weekend,sendingseveral peopleto hospital.

The publiccommunity-building event was free and gave people in the neighbourhood a chance to process the impact of the massive fire together.

Fire crews battled theblaze at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Maryland Streetuntil the sun came up last Saturday. A multi-level condo that was under construction went up in flames, which then spread to oneadjacent home on Westminster and another on Maryland, causing an estimated $4.5 million in damages.

RAW: Fire rips through condo, homes at Westminster and Marlyand intersection

8 years ago

Duration 1:38

Doug Kretchmer filmed a blaze that ripped through a condo and homes in Wolseley Saturday morning at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Maryland Street.

Six people, including four firefighters, suffered burn injuries and were sent to hospital.

A garage fire nearby on Chestnut Street the same day waslater linked to arson.

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The community has rallied around the house fire victims, organizing donation drives for the families who lost everything in the blaze.

A barbecue and sharing circleput on at the church on Saturday allowed sisters Helen andNedaProcnerto meet the people who rescued them from their home last weekend.

Capt. Rob Labossiere spotted Nedaat the front door during the fire. She and her sister were unable to escape the house because they were surrounded by flames.

Labossieremade the call to have officers enter the burning building and rescue the two women. On Saturday at the gathering, he met Helen for the first time.

"We really appreciate the firefighters getting us out of there because we were trapped in the doorway and we didn't think we were getting out of there alive," Helen said.

"Their uniforms were melting before they even got to the house, so the guys just had to keep spraying water because they were already melting," she said. "[I don't know] how I got out of there without being cooked ....because I had a cotton night shirt."

ForLabossiere, the outpour of appreciation makes him proud of Winnipeg.

"It does give you a lot of pride that the community will come together and that there's the support for the firefighters," he said.

Helen lost her wheelchair in the fire and was in the hospital for a few days, uncertain of how she would manage when discharged, when people in the community found her a chair to use temporarily and then started a fundraiser to buy her a new one.

Since then, six people donated wheelchairs, said Anne Fountain, who has raised more than $1,000 on a gofundme campaign.

"She'll actually have her pick," Fountain said, noting thatemails continue to come frompeople wanting to help.

Fountain is alsostoring a bed, some furniture and clothing for the Procnersuntil the women get a new home.

"It was really nice to meet them," she said.

"We'll stay in touch for a long time."

Saturday's gathering ran from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.Cash and other donations can still be dropped off at the church.