Homes evacuated, firefighter taken to hospital following Point Douglas warehouse fire
Some Point Douglas area homes have been evacuated as a precaution and one firefighter has been taken to hospital as crews continue to battle a large fire burning in an abandoned warehouse that could take days to extinguish.
Grey, thick smoke could be seen billowing from the area Tuesday afternoon. Pahul Singh had been in the area on his lunch break when he saw the smoke that he said made the sky pitch black.
"There was one fire truck followed by many more, and there was a lot of ambulances and it was just crazy," he said.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the fire around 11:20 a.m., and will likely remain on scene for several days.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Jamie Vanderhorst, assistant chief of WFPS fire and rescue operations, said so far, the reports suggest the building, located at 2 Point Douglas Avenue, was empty and there was no one inside. However, there’s been no way for fire crews to enter the building and verify.
He noted that it is safe to say the building is a total loss, as the roof has caved in, though no damage estimates are available.
“What the crews encountered was the heavy black smoke and flames from the middle, which caused the roof to collapse,” Vanderhorst said.
“At this time, because the roof collapsed, it is hard to get at those hot spots without making that entry.”
He noted since firefighters can’t gain entry to the building, they have to find other ways to extinguish the fire from outside the structure.
Vanderhorst added that since it’s a warm day outside, they’ve been having to rotate crews. The city said about 33 fire and paramedic apparatus have been dispatched, with around 100 WFPS members involved in the fire fight.
“We also are encountering some issues with hydro wires,” he said.
“Even though apparently they are off. It is very hard for our apparatuses to get in there to deploy an aerial to get it from up above.”
The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed to CTV News it is assisting with the fire. Police said eastbound Higgins Avenue is now closed at Annabella Street, with traffic being rerouted north and west. Southbound. Higgins Avenue is closed at Sutherland Avenue, with traffic being rerouted west.
The public is asked to avoid the area and find alternate routes.
“We’re looking at it to be a prolonged event,” Vanderhorst said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Area resident Shaone Ritchie, who lives within blocks of the fire, said the blaze is not surprising.
"It is becoming a common occurrence around here," he said. "It would be nice to see it cleaned up because then we can get this neighbourhood back to the way it was – which is family oriented."
Tuesday night, in a release, the City of Winnipeg said approximately 10 nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. It said Emergency Social Services was called to help displaced residents find a temporary place to stay. It was unknown Tuesday night when they would be able to return to thier homes.
The smoke from the fire prompted the city to advise people with breathing conditions to stay inside and keep doors and windows closed. The city said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service had informed Manitoba Conservation and Climate of the fire so it can assess the environmental impact on the site.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.