Winnipeg police investigating fire as homicide after two people die in hospital

A fire that broke out in a building in north Winnipeg early Saturday morning is being investigated as a homicide.

CTV News Winnipeg had previously reported that three people had been hospitalized – two of them in critical condition – following the fire in a three-storey multi-purpose building on Atlantic Avenue.

On Sunday afternoon, Winnipeg police said the two patients died in hospital in critical condition. They were identified as 49-year-old Geda Wodisso and 38-year-old Zenabu Gula.

Firefighters were called to the commercial/residential building at approximately 2:49 a.m. Saturday morning. When they arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. They initially fought the fire from the inside, but had to retreat as the situation worsened. Aerial ladder trucks were used to fight the fire from the outside, and a WFPS drone was used to identify hot spots.

According to police, firefighters rescued Wodisso and Gula from one of the suites and provided emergency aid at the scene before the two victims were taken to hospital. Two other people were treated for smoke inhalation, police said.

Police said the fire was suspicious and that the homicide squad had taken over the investigation.

No arrests were made.

Police are asking anyone with information or CCTV footage from the area to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers.