Industrial blaze in Point Douglas sparks health concerns By: Cierra Bettens and Chris Kitching Posted: 9:21 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 4, 2023 Last Modified: 4:50 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 4, 2023 Updates

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A fire at a large multi-use industrial building in Point Douglas could take days to extinguish and has raised area residents’ concern about air quality due to unidentified chemicals stored inside.

Winnipeg firefighters were called to the structure on Sutherland Avenue, between Maple Street North and Argyle Avenue, shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday.

“I woke up this morning around 5:30 a.m…. I saw the flashing lights,” North Point Douglas resident Jonathan Sheard said.

Homes within a three-block area were evacuated, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service acting district chief Rob Labossiere said.

“It could be awhile,” he said of an estimated length of time to put out the blaze. “Some of these take a couple of days.”

Sharon Johnson, who lives about two blocks from the scene, said a city police officer knocked on her door shortly before noon, telling her to be prepared to evacuate should the fire spread to an adjacent building.

“I asked him why, and he said it would be extremely toxic smoke that would be dangerous to breathe,” said Johnson, who was gathering a bag of belongings and cat carrier ready in case she was forced to leave.

The power went out at Johnson’s home at about 8 a.m.

Around 8:30 a.m., nearby resident Daniel Wilson took a break from watching the fire to grab a cup of coffee. Suddenly, he heard an explosion. “It shook the house.”

In the afternoon, traffic lights in the surrounding area were out of service. Without power, Metro Meat, a nearby business, was forced to close its doors for the day.

Jason Raven biked to the scene early in the morning and stayed until early afternoon. Having lived in the neighbourhood for most of his life, Raven said it feels as if Point Douglas is losing an institution.

He fears many people who currently work in the building will lose their jobs.

“I’ve been here for 40 years. I remember when it used to be a steel mill,” Raven said. “It’s sad. I don’t want to see that place going down, but it’s absolutely going to burn for the next couple of days.”

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire had not yet been determined.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, it was not known when impacted residents would be allowed to return to their homes.

The fire also sparked health concerns over air quality, with large plumes of smoke billowing into the sky at times. People in the area were told to close their windows.

“It’s sad. I don’t want to see that place going down, but it’s absolutely going to burn for the next couple of days.”–Jason Raven

Labossiere said unidentified chemicals, vehicles and tires were inside the building, which almost spans an entire city block.

“All fires are toxic and all carry different contaminants in them,” the WFPS official said. “Our concern is to minimize that exposure.”

A spokeswoman for the province said an environmental emergency response team is monitoring air quality. Labossiere said the province was also testing fire water run-off for contaminants.

Manitoba Hydro said power was out for more than 500 customers, adding there was no estimated time of restoration.

For fire crews, the priorities are protecting the public and their own safety from a number of hazards while battling the blaze, officials said.

Many parts of the building had caved in. “The amount of heat and smoke that was involved did create a lot of challenges,” Labossiere said.

Fires in multi-use industrial buildings pose a concern because crews don’t know what’s inside when they arrive, he added.

Labossiere said there were no reports of anyone being inside the building when the first crews arrived.

The WFPS also used a drone equipped with a heat-seeking sensor to survey the blaze and progress of the firefighters’ efforts.

The Sutherland Avenue site holds a significant place in Winnipeg’s history.

Dating to 1874, a year after the city was incorporated, it was once home to Vulcan Iron Works, which made everything from steel structural components to fire hydrants, according to the Manitoba Historical Society’s website.

“At one time, it was really one of the economic engines of Winnipeg,” said architect and Free Press columnist Brent Bellamy. “It’s really sad today to see (the site) lost forever.”

Motivated by poor working conditions, staff from Vulcan and other companies eventually joined the Metal Trades Council, which demanded it be recognized as a union. Vulcan’s rebuff of the demand contributed to the 1919 General Strike.

The site was also used to produce artillery shells during the First and Second World Wars, along with parts for naval and merchant ships.

By the mid-1970s, Vulcan had been bought out by another company and operations had moved to a different site in Winnipeg, the historical society said. Various businesses had occupied the building since then.

Meantime, Tuesday’s blaze highlighted some residents’ concerns about industrial buildings and rail lines being close to homes, schools and child care centres.

“The fact that they have these butting up against homes is ridiculous,” said Catherine Flynn, acting chairperson of the Point Douglas Residents Committee. “The rails need to leave and we need to re-examine where we put industry.”

Flynn, who lives about two blocks from the fire scene, was concerned about such flammable materials being stored close to a residential neighbourhood.

She kept her windows closed after smelling the smoke. “It’s totally acrid. It smells really nasty.”

Others expressed concerns about what will happen to the site remains after the fire is extinguished.

“What will be left?” Johnson said. “Are we going to have to look at this and smell this absolute eyesore for (a) year?”

In recent months, several businesses on Main Street have been destroyed by fire. Flynn said those ruins have still not been cleaned up.

“It’s totally acrid. It smells really nasty.”–Catherine Flynn

Flynn, who has lived in the area for 10 years, said fires are a “constant” concern in Point Douglas.

On Saturday, a blaze destroyed a vacant house on Lisgar Avenue, which had been set to be turned into affordable housing.

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

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