WINNIPEG — A 26-year-old man is facing arson charges after a North End apartment fire forced nearly 15 people to dangle from windows to escape heavy smoke Monday night.
The fire broke out in the hallway just after 9:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Jarvis Avenue, on the third floor stairwell, trapping several tenants upstairs.
A dozen people had to be rescued by ladder through the upper-floor windows.
“When you pull up to a building that is well involved in fire, and you have people hanging out the windows calling for help, and there is smoke coming out of those windows, you are afraid for everyone’s lives,” assistant fire chief Mark Reshaur said at a media conference Tuesday.
Reshur said he also heard one person jumped from the window of the second floor to escape the heavy smoke.
Fire crews said 21 people were treated on scene and five residents were taken to hospital. One is in critical condition. One firefighter was also treated at the scene for minor injuries.
“There was more people taken out of the building than we’ve seen in a long time,” Reshaur said.
Damage is estimated at $200,000.
Before the fire broke out, police said they initially received a report of an assault at the Jarvis Avenue location.
A 45-year-old female victim was able to flee her residence after being assaulted by a suspect who was known to her, police said. Shortly after this report, emergency crews received a report of a fire at an apartment at the same location.
On Tuesday, police said they arrested Alexander Campbell, 26, who, in addition to arson, faces charges of assault, choking to overcome resistance and numerous offences for failing to comply with court conditions.
WATCH: Assistant fire chief Mark Reshaur talks about the scene of the fire