Fire on Furby Street sends five to hospital

Five people were taken to hospital after an apartment fire in Winnipeg's West End early Sunday morning.

The fire started on Sunday morning at 03:20 in a five-story residential building between 0 and 100 Furby Street. According to initial reports, some residents were trapped in their rooms.

When Winnipeg Fire Paramedics (WFPS) first arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building.

Crews then attacked the fire from inside the building and rescued those trapped. The City of Winnipeg noted that several residents were rescued by aerial ladders.

Emergency personnel transported five people to the hospital, including two in serious condition, three in stable condition.

A Winnipeg Transit bus was brought to the scene to provide shelter to residents.

The city's Emergency Services team is on scene to assist displaced residents as tenants are currently unable to return to the building due to smoke, fire and water damage. About 30 out of 40 residents need help finding housing.

The cause of the fire is being determined, and the damage has not yet been estimated