Winnipeg emergency crews responded to more than 500 encampment fire calls last year and made hundreds of additional safety visits to the same sites. “Any number of fires is concerning and, certainly, we have seen some encampment fires be very dangerous in the city. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Firefighters work on extinguishing a blaze at an encampment. Beyond responding to fires, WFPS paid 576 fire-safety visits in 2025. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Paul Samyn | Editor's Note Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom.