Winkler Police saved a man from a burning structure on Friday, and then arrested him for arson.

Blake Leslie Titchkosky, age 33 and of no fixed address, has been charged with uttering threats, break and enter, and arson.

On Friday at approximately 12:06 p.m a Winkler Police Service member on patrol observed a structure fire in the 200 block of 4th Street.

The officer immediately contacted additional officers and the Winkler Fire Department.

As the officer approached the residence he saw an adult male trapped inside. The officer entered the smoke-filled residence and helped the male evacuate.

The male was found to be intoxicated and told the officer there were additional people inside the house. The officer re-entering the residence two more times to search for the additional people but was unable to find anyone else inside.

A second and third officer arrived and entered the residence, where they continued to search until the fire department arrived a short time later.

The Winkler Fire Department was able to quickly extinguish the fire and confirm that there were no other occupants inside.

The male from inside the residence, and the first responding officer, were both transported to Boundary Trails Health Centre where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the man police helped evacuate did not reside at the home. Titchkosky has been remanded into custody and transported to the Winnipeg Remand Centre to await a court appearance in Portage la Prairie on Monday, October 31, 2016.

The Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner was contacted and has examined the scene.

There is no damage estimate available at this time.