The owner of a Winnipeg high-rise apartment is seeking $25 million in damages, alleging that Rogers and its contractors were partly responsible for a fire that broke out two years ago.
In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on Aug. 14, East Village Holdings Inc. said the August 2023 fire began on the rooftop of the building at 221 Stradbrook Ave., where Rogers had leased space for telecommunications equipment, reports CTV News.
The claim alleges contractors working on behalf of Rogers brought batteries and other materials to the rooftop and ran an extension cord for power. It says the blaze damaged the rooftop water-protection system, with further rainfall causing additional water damage. The statement adds that tenants were forced to leave the building until repairs were made.
According to the filing, Rogers owed a “duty of care in all aspects of the project and its use of the leased premises,” including the choice of materials, supplies, contractors, and supervision.
A Rogers spokesperson told CTV News the company plans to respond in court. “We recognize the challenges faced by those impacted by the fire at 221 Stradbrook Avenue in 2023,” the spokesperson said. “While the cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, we’re aware third-party contractors had been on-site to start preparations for enhancing wireless coverage for residents and emergency responders within the community, as mutually agreed by the landlord.”
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said the blaze began around 7 p.m. and was under control about 45 minutes later. Residents were evacuated, and one tenant and one firefighter were taken to hospital. The building sustained “extensive water damage,” which left the elevator system unusable.
Former tenants have filed a separate lawsuit against Rogers, the contractors, and the building owner, alleging the 2023 fire was caused by improperly installed electrical equipment that was never inspected, according to the WFP. They claim a knotted extension cord tied to a scaffold and wrapped around a ladder overheated and sparked within seconds of being used, and that faulty lead-acid batteries stored on the roof also contributed to the blaze. The tenants say they lost thousands of dollars in belongings and repairs, faced insurance costs, and had to pay extra living expenses after being forced from their homes.
None of the claims have been proven in court.
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