Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 17, 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba Smoking being ruled out As cause of fire by Tracy Tjaden for the free press smoking is being ruled out by fire investigators As the cause of a Blaze at the Misericordia health Centre tuesday night that injured one patient and landed 27 others in a temporary Ward. A Hospital spokesman said fire officials told him they were focusing on other possible causes. It s our understanding that the patient did t smoke and did t have Access to a match or lighter said Ron Hill. It is the first thing that jumps to meanwhile a fire at the Winnipeg clinic yesterday afternoon caused $10,000 in damage. Firefighters said the Blaze broke out in a main floor storage room at the 425 St. Mary re. Site at 3 29 ., and staff and patients were evacuated from the building. There were no injuries. The cause is still being investigated. Fire damage at the Misericordia is estimated at $50,000, said Hill. The injured patient 76, is in stable condition and recovering from minor Burns on his left Arm and two right fingers. The other 27 patients on the geriatric Ward who were transferred to other rooms tuesday night won t be going Back to their original Beds right away. District fire chief George tred Denick said the Blaze began in a patient s mattress at about 11 30 Bring Back door to door checks says City s fire prevention chief most smoke detectors fail inspection Day after boy Dies in House fire by Gordon Sinclair or. Free press columnist to officer Greg Wahl shows where smoke Detector was removed. 1he City s director of fire prevention wants to bring Back regular door to door fire inspections in the Wake of an inner City Home fire tuesday that has claimed at least one Young life. It was the absence of batteries in smoke detectors that contributed to the death of four year old Michael Spence and the hospitalization of his Sisters Melanie five an Rangela three. Both girls remained on life support and in critical condition last night at children s Hospital. I think it s something we re going to have to talk about Roger Cham Berland said of the City wide Home inspections that Haven t been conducted regularly for about 15 years. Chamberland invited the free press on an informal smoke Detector inspection of a dozen inner City Homes yesterday. The tour ranged from a physician and father of five s River property in Wolseley to the rental Home of a single Mother drawing social assistance on Spence Street. Seven of the 12 Homes or 60 per cent failed the smoke Detector inspection. Two of the Homes both rental units had no smoke detectors at All violating the bylaw requiring alarm devices to be placed on ceilings adjacent to bedrooms. The fire department did an inspection drive during fire prevention week last year. But the department gave up regular inspections about 15 years ago because they Felt there was Little Benefit. Chamberland said people who cared about their fire safety generally let firefighters in to take a look while those whose Homes most needed inspection refused entry. Times have changed though. Today smoke detectors Are mandatory in Winnipeg Homes which gives the fire department a better what was most significant about yesterday s informal Survey besides the anticipated High incidence of non compliance was How vividly it demonstrated that negligence knows no socioeconomic boundaries. The doctor s Wolseley Home was among those who failed. The batteries had been disconnected to the smoke detectors in the hallway leading to the upstairs bedrooms. Meanwhile the single Mother not Only had smoke detectors she knew they were working. She also had a plan to evacuate the House should fire break out. The 31-year-old inuit woman explained Why she was so concerned. Her Mother died in a fire at Rankin Inlet . Then there were the three female University students who were sharing a Home on Spence Street. No batteries were in the upstairs smoke Detector where their bedrooms Are. Chamberland blames complacency and a Lack of knowledge for people s Lack of Diligence when it comes to the Upkeep of smoke detectors which should be checked every month to make sure they re working. Homeowners with Battery operated smoke detectors should replace them each year for instance when Manitoba reverts to Standard time this fall. Sons since 1909 to the general pubic so we can prepare for our biggest event of the year look in tomorrow s paper for All the exciting details. / i i this saturday & sunday Only Don t miss it a. A w ;