Man who died in Young Street house fire will be 'sadly missed,' says brother
CBC
A 68-year-old man who died in a house fire in Winnipeg's West Broadway area last week is being remembered by family and friends as a nice, funny person who always spoke his mind.
Gregory George Thomas, 68, died after being taken to hospital in critical condition following a house fire on Young Street between Portage Avenue and Broadway on Feb. 12, police said in a Monday news release.
Another person and a firefighter injured at the scene were taken to hospital in stable condition.
Police said the homicide unit took over the investigation after investigators learned the fire was set on purpose.
Michael Patrick Gordon, 40, was charged with one count of manslaughter and two counts of arson — disregard for human life . He was detained in custody, police said.
Gregory Thomas' brother, Murray Thomas, said he was outside the charred Young Street home on Monday afternoon to lay down flowers for his sibling and "show that I loved him."
Murray Thomas said that his brother — the eldest of three — was a funny man who always spoke his mind.
"Greg was a good guy. He was quiet; he liked to have fun," he said. "He's going to be sadly missed."
Murray Thomas said it was "heartbreaking" to see the home caked in black soot after the fire and that it really hurt to hear arson allegations from police.
"He was happy here … he had friends, people loved him. We all loved him and we're really going to miss him," Thomas said.
Derek Rempel, who lived in a neighbouring unit on the top floor of the home, said it was sad to learn about his friend and neighbour's passing.
"He was just a nice guy. He would always try to help someone out," Rempel said.
"He didn't deserve to die in a house fire."
The Young Street blaze is the second fatal house fire in the city so far this month.
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