Building on Archibald Street to be demolished after another fire on industrial property

A vacant building in the St. Boniface industrial area will be demolished after it was gutted by fire early Thursday.

Firefighters were sent to the single-storey building on the first 100 block of Archibald Street after Winnipeg Police Service officers reported the blaze to the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service at about 3:30 a.m.

Crews launched a defensive attack, using aerial ladders to blast water on the fire.

Brad Mazor, acting district chief with the WFPS, who spoke briefly with reporters Thursday morning, said what made the fire so difficult for crews was that fire was underneath the roof at spots.

“We deployed our drone, and the drone gave us heat signatures and locations where the fires were,” he said. “Until (the fire) came through the roof a little bit more, we weren’t able to get at those spots. “

The building will soon be destroyed because of structural concerns and to help find any hot spots. It sustained severe smoke, fire and water damage, the WFPS said in a news release late Thursday morning.

Mazor called the damage “significant.”

Archibald is closed between Nairn Avenue and Mission Street.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The property includes several buildings that were damaged by previous fires. The most recent was also first reported by police, early on Sept. 30. The other fires were on May 30 — when it was already vacant — and on Nov. 25, 2003.

Mazor said there were reports of flammable liquids in the building.

He didn’t have further details on what the liquids could have been, only saying crews were alerted to the possibility on their way to the scene.

Mazor said no one was believed to be in the building, which he believed was being used for storage.

The Free Press has reached out to the owner of the property.

The city encouraged motorists to seek alternative routes and expect delays in the area.

“When the road reopens, residents should use caution. Water from firefighting efforts will freeze and create slippery conditions,” a news release said. “City crews will monitor the area, and apply sand and de-icing agents to roads and sidewalks as needed to improve traction.”

More to come.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca