Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Firefighters battle blaze on U of M campus
Firefighters work on a fire that broke out in the Duff Roblin building at the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus Saturday afternoon. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
Students watch as firefighters work to put out the fire that broke out in the Duff Roblin building. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
A potentially explosive fire in a University of Manitoba building containing hundreds of dangerous laboratory chemicals forced emergency crews to evacuate parts of campus Saturday afternoon.
Thick black smoke billowed from the fourth floor of U of M’s Duff Roblin building shortly after noon, and witnesses saw flames shooting from one of the upper floors.
Part of the building houses the department of zoology, where more than 250 hazardous chemicals are stored.
Bill Clark, Winnipeg Fire Department’s assistant chief of operations, said fire crews were initially unaware the building contained hazardous materials. When university officials alerted them to the potential danger, Clark said crews were immediately called out of the building and a three-alarm event was called.
That prompted dozens of fire trucks, police cruisers, environmental crews, and the hazardous materials unit to descend on the Fort Garry campus.
Police quickly taped off Dysart Road to traffic, and students were forced to leave buildings in the immediate area. Within an hour, the entire U of M campus was closed to anyone trying to enter, including frantic parents wanting to pick up their children from music lessons or athletic events.
"It was very significant, it requires a large number of resources," Clark said.
"There were lots of materials burning."
Intense heat and the chemicals made it impossible for fire crews to tackle the blaze from the inside. Instead, Clark said crews opened up the side of the building to contain the blaze.
It worked, but the building suffered extensive damage. The fire was out by 3 p.m., but Clark said most of the building was damaged by smoke.
Environmental crews must test the air quality before investigators will be able to determine the cause of the blaze and estimate damages. No one was hurt.
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