In the morning of New Years’ Day a residential fire on Sinclair Street in the community destroyed several homes, leaving devastation behind.
At approximately 7:40 a.m., Moose Lake RCMP received a report of the fire and officers attended the scene. There, they ensured nearby residences had been evacuated. Before the fire could be extinguished, five trailers were destroyed and a sixth damaged.
Several things went wrong.
The blaze within the first home is being considered as deliberate. Then, the community’s fire trucks were unable to respond. Heaters within the shed that were to keep the water in their fire fighting vehicles from freezing weren’t functioning.
The fire department from The Pas, which is over an hour to the west of Moose Lake, was called in. However, the fire had begun to die down on its own.
According to a CBC news report at least 20 people are affected by this loss of five homes.
However, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has not been determined but it is under investigation as arson.
Police are asking that anyone with information in regards to this fire, please call the Moose Lake RCMP at 204-678-2399, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
