'A big blow to everyone': Fire destroys Winkler shop
A fire destroyed a popular paint and hobby shop in Winkler Thursday afternoon with black smoke prompting Winkler police to close off a stretch of Highway 32 for more than an hour.
Winkler fire crews were called to Janzen’s Paint and Decorating on Centennial Street at 12:20 in the afternoon.
“There was a lot of smoke, a lot of flames, and within the hour, we saw walls falling and paint cans popping. It was just, a lot. A lot to watch in a very short time,” Arlen Thiessen, property manager with A L Group of Companies told CTV News.
Thiessen said the first priority was making sure everyone evacuated safely.
“It was very quick. We did a kind of inventory of people, and realized luckily at the time, there were no customers in the store, so got all the staff out,” Thiessen said.
Winkler Fire Chief Richard Paetzold told CTV News the fire was already well-involved when crews arrived.
“We attempted an offensive attack for a short period, but because of the contents of the building and the nature of the hazards, we quite soon went into a defensive mode,” Paetzold said.
Thiessen said that shift likely prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent building.
“The amazing work of the fire department did save that building, so we’re very thankful of them for that,” Thiessen added.
Chief Paetzold said the Winkler Fire Department received assistance from crews out of Morden and Altona. He said they remained on the scene for 12 hours and had to rotate frequently because of the cold.
“Some of our firefighters did suffer from frostbite, but other than that, there were no other injuries.”
Thiessen said the loss of a locally-owned business is devastating.
“They got toys and games and model cars and everything you could think of in the hobby world,” Thiessen explained. “So, it’s a beloved business in the community and it’s a big blow to everyone.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.