Main Street building 'total loss': WFPS

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) crews are cleaning up in North Point Douglas after a massive fire tore through a commercial building in the 800 block of Main Street early Saturday morning.

The WFPS got the call just after 2:00 a.m. on Feb. 11. When fire crews arrived at 843 Main Street, Surplus Direct's storefront, they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the building.

Deeming it not safe to enter, firefighters attacked the blaze from outside. They used aerial ladders to spray water on the fire from above. Fire crews also used the WFPS drone to get an overhead view.

As the flames continued to burn, the fire spread to the neighbouring buildings, Lord Selkirk Furniture and Top Pro Roofing LTD.

"Despite the fantastic effort by our crews, because the buildings are totally adjoining one another and connected, the fire did move through the roof line and extended to both buildings on either side," said Scott Wilkinson, assistant chief of the WFPS.

Approximately 15 homes on Austin Street North and a three-storey apartment building on Main Street were evacuated as a precaution.

These industries, especially Surplus Direct, definitely had a lot of various combustibles in it," said Wilkinson. "Always toxicity in that smoke with modern combustibles, so that is why we took precautions with everybody in the area."

A Winnipeg Transit bus responded as a temporary shelter for displaced residents.

Wilkinson said none of the homes were damaged and hoped residents could return soon. He noted the apartment building sustained a fair bit of smoke damage but was unsure of its condition.

Three firefighters were treated by paramedics for minor injuries and taken to hospital in stable condition.

"The main building had an extensive amount of material in it. That made for a heavy, heavy fire load," said Wilkinson.

"That makes it very difficult to get to the scene of the fire, therefore, the extension to the roof lines and other buildings. So the volume of fire that we had and the adjoining buildings were the biggest challenges we had here."

Wilkinson said all of the buildings are a complete loss and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The WFPS said it was slowly working to reopen Main Street.

Residents and drivers are urged to avoid the area, as there may be ice on Main Street between Jarvis Avenue and Euclid Avenue.

- With files from CTV News' Mason DePatie