Point Douglas fire sends smoke billowing over Winnipeg
A timber-frame shed behind a historic building in Point Douglas is a total loss after flames razed the structure to the ground.
Around 7:45 p.m. Thursday, 911 got several calls about smoke in the area of Louise Bridge.
Don Enns, platoon chief with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, said fire fighters responding to calls found a shed behind the Brown and Rutherford lumber mill at 5 Sutherland Avenue completely engulfed in flames.
Fire crews battle a fire on Sutherland Avenue on March 30, 2023. (Source: Danton Unger/CTV News Winnipeg)
"We were quite lucky in terms of what presented here, in that the large building – that being the Brown and Rutherford Building, which is a building that is incredibly old and historic, but also incredibly large – was not impacted by this fire," he said.
Enns said it appears the fire was in a large exterior storage shed behind the building.
The flames sent smoke billowing into the sky, creating a plume that could be seen across the city.
Smoke billows over Winnipeg's skyline from a fire on Sutherland Avenue on March 30, 2023. (Source: Joey Slattery/CTV News Winnipeg)
"It was well engulfed, so it had to be burning for a while," he said. "It is quite old, probably kind of a timber-frame construction. It did present a lot of flame and a lot of fire, and consequently a lot of smoke."
He said one challenge crews faced was actually accessing water. He said a nearby fire hydrant was not working, so crews had to find another hydrant farther away.
Enns said no injuries were reported and no one was inside the building. He said due to the fact there was little wind, none of the surrounding homes had to be evacuated.
The shed, however, is a total loss and has collapsed. Crews remained on the scene Thursday evening dowsing the smoking rubble with water and extinguishing hotspots.
Fire crews battle a fire on Sutherland Avenue on March 30, 2023. (Source: Danton Unger/CTV News Winnipeg)
He said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
"Our fire investigator is on scene and he is now just starting his preliminary investigation of this fire."
Enns said crews were expected to clear out later Thursday night.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.