Work progresses on Manitoba fire resiliency program

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s efforts to upgrade fire resiliency at its health care facilities are bearing fruit.

The province announced it has made significant progress on its $280 million initiative to enhance fire and life safety at personal care homes, hospitals and health care facilities.

As part of the fire and life-safety project led by Shared Health, all hospitals, personal care homes and health centres in Manitoba will have full or partial sprinkler systems installed over the next six to eight years with work prioritized to facilities that benefit most from upgrades.

Officials noted while the pandemic has impacted the timing of some upgrades, progress continues to be made on the initiative with full or partial sprinkler systems now installed in 74 per cent of all health-care and personal care home facilities.

“Vulnerable Manitobans and their loved ones rightfully want to know that we are providing them with the highest level of safety we can,” said Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Scott Johnston in a statement. “While the measures already in place offer substantial protection, we are committed to moving forward with improvements that will enhance safety and minimize risk for residents, patients, staff and visitors across Manitoba.”