WINNIPEG – A 31 per cent drop in fires from 2012 to 2013 can be attributed to arson prevention, public education and the removal of community garbage bins known as AutoBins, a city news release says.
An upcoming report from the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner shows there were 1,946 fire reports recorded in 2013 and 2,818 in 2012, the news release says.
Of those, there were 352 arson-related fires in 2013, a 41 per cent drop from 2012, when there were 598.
“The city’s new recycling and garbage collection program has been a major factor in the significant drop in reported fires. Removing more than 5,000 AutoBins has meant fewer targets for arsonists,” said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief John Lane.
The city removed the large community garbage bins when it brought in the current garbage and recycling carts in 2012.
Enhanced pickups of bulk waste and abandoned garbage also helped, Lane said.
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