Fire causes $500K damage to Wolseley home

One person is in hospital after an early morning house fire in Winnipeg's Wolseley neighbourhood.

The fire, in the 100 block of Ethelbert Street started at about 4 a.m., on Friday and caused an estimated $500,000 damage before it was finally put out at around 8:30 a.m.

Crews could be seen pouring water on the 2 ½-storey house for hours, focusing on the roof and upper floor, as smoke blanketed the area.

Everyone managed to get out but one man suffered some burns and is in stable condition in hospital.

Iris Yudai, who lives nearby, said she looked up shortly after the fire began and "there were huge flames leaping out of the top of the house."

The house is split into two apartments, she said.

"We just met the people who live in that upper apartment a couple of days ago — a lovely young couple there. So I was concerned about them and their roommate, that they got out," Yudai said.

Platoon chief Steven Sumka said eight to 10 people were in the house at the time.

"One person attempted to put out the fire. He suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation, Sumka said.

"Our paramedics treated them on scene and transported them to hospital as a precaution."

There are many challenges to fighting fires in an older area like Wolseley, which has tall homes and many large trees.

The crews had to cut away branches to get at the home and then encountered more challenges after that.

"These are big homes, old homes, old construction. They're tough. There's been a lot of renovations done," Sumka said.

"But firefighters are used to this. They train for this."

Darryl Dyck, who lives next door and owns the house that burned, said it was beautiful, inside and out, and had been extensively renovated.

He isn't sure if he can salvage it.

"I don't know. I sure, sure hope we can, but I don't know," he said.

There is no word on the cause.