Fires that occurred at three Walmart stores across Winnipeg Thursday evening are being investigated as arsons by the Major Crimes Unit.

The firest occured over a two and a half hour period, and news of the fires spread quickly on social media.

Const. Jay Murray of the Winnipeg Police Service says, "There has been some speculation on social media that the fires could be related to Walmart’s recent face coverings requirement – this does not appear to be the case."

At 6:07 p.m. a Walmart in the 1000 block of Empress Street caught fire. The fire was fought with hand-held extinguishers with Winnipeg fire crews arriving to fully extinguish the flames.

At 7:19 p.m. crews were called to a second Walmart, in the 1500 block of Regent Avenue West. A Winnipeg man, Tony Lopes, says he used hand-held extinguishers to fight the fire.

At 8:49 p.m. in the 2300 block of McPhillips Street, a third Walmart was the location of a fire. When crews arrived, the fire was already extinguished. 

The Winnipeg Police Service says that they are investigating all three fires together as one thread of arsons. The Major Crimes Unit is investigating the related fires.

Murray could not say at this time how many people were involved, and says there is no other information available.

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