Manitoba

Two dead after 'unusual' brush fire behind business on Regent Avenue

Two people were severely burned after a brush fire Friday behind a business on Regent Avenue and have since died.

Two men found with severe burns Friday night, say Winnipeg police

The fire happened here near these trees. Some were left charred. (Lyza Sale/CBC)

Two men are dead after being severely burned in an unusual brush fire behind a busy shopping area in Transcona Friday night.

The fire happened behind the Petland store on Regent Avenue West, which is beside a busy Walmart.

Winnipeg police gave few details about the fire but said emergency responders were called at 11:15 p.m. for reports of a brush fire.
Gloves from EMS workers could be seen on Sunday. (Lyza Sale/CBC)

Two adult men were found in a field behind the store suffering from what police said was significant burns. The victims were sent to hospital but died from their injuries.

On Sunday, purple gloves from EMS workers could still be seen on the ground and a small area on the ground was charred. The bottoms of trees were also burned, but only by a few inches, raising questions about how the two men died.

No security cameras behind store

People who work in the area told CBC they saw fire trucks behind the store Friday night and said police were probing the deaths by asking employees questions over the weekend.
A small area was left charred after the fire. (Lyza Sale/CBC)

There are no security cameras behind the Petland store and police say it is too soon to say if this could be treated as a homicide investigation. Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver called the situation "unusual."

Carver said no fire suppression was needed to put out the fire. 

There is currently a burn ban in Winnipeg due to the dry conditions in and around the city.

With files from Austin Grabish