Fire in Keewatin Street strip mall causes major damage

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This article was published 12/02/2024 (572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A fire caused “significant” damage to a strip mall on Keewatin Street on Monday morning.

Crews were sent to the property at 1030 Keewatin St. at about 4:43 a.m. and saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the single-storey building. Firefighters used aerial ladder trucks in battling the blaze and a drone to help direct water streams and locate hot spots.

The fire was mostly contained to Gill’s Supermarket and an adjacent KFC restaurant, though all the businesses in the strip mall were closed because of the smoke and fire.

“The building has suffered significant fire and water damage. Damage estimates are not available at this time,” the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release.

Fire crews were expected to be at the scene well into the day as they worked to extinguish the fire. Keewatin was closed in both directions between Inkster Boulevard and Church Avenue. The area around the fire will remain closed to traffic until work at the scene is complete, the WFPS said.

The strip’s mall parking lot was full of charred debris later Monday morning, while fire crews and investigators continued working at the rear of the building and a drone flew overhead.

Later, at 6:10 a.m., crews were sent to a fire involving two vacant two-storey houses in the 400 block of Elgin Avenue. The blaze was threatening a third, occupied house, the WFPS said.

The fire was under control as of late Monday morning, but crews were expected to remain at the scene, putting out hot spots, for a while.

“Both houses have extensive damage from previous fires and are considered a complete loss. Demolition of both structures is being arranged,” the WFPS said.

Elgin was closed between Isabel and Ellen streets because of the fire. The area around the fire will remain closed until the demolition work is done later Monday.

The causes of the fires on Keewatin Street and Elgin Avenue are under investigation.