WINNIPEG — Fire crews battled a blaze Sunday in one of Winnipeg’s most storied and expensive mansions.
Emergency crews were called to the home at 1021 Wellington Cres. at around 6:15 a.m. No one was injured in the fire.
The home’s owner, Karl Dornetshuber, and his family were in Edmonton when the blaze broke out. The damage is estimated in the millions of dollars.
The fire sent a huge column of smoke billowing into the sky over the wealthy River Heights neighbourhood.
“I ran to my mom’s washroom and looked outside and saw my neighbour’s house in flames, just up to the sky orange flames — crazy,” said Mary Furgale.
“The amount of smoke that was being thrown up in the air and the amount of dark ash, it was quite something else,” said Greg Kos, who lives on Wellington.
Bright orange flames could be seen consuming the large, two-storey house on a 1.7 acre lot on the banks of the Assiniboine River.
“This is a very large home, a very prominent home in the city, and the fire was extensive — damage appears to be extensive,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen of the Winnipeg Police Service.
Crews fought the blaze all morning and into the afternoon in the 1930s home that was renovated, extended and modernized five years ago.
The iconic house has been home to many prominent and wealthy Winnipeg families, including the Siftons and Aspers.
Wellington Crescent was closed to traffic in the area and fire crews expected to be on scene into the evening to make sure the smouldering fire was out.
“Police and fire investigators will comb through the debris and make whatever determinations they need to with respect to the cause,” said Michalyshen.
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