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Calgary firefighters battle blaze at Eau Claire condo complex that was set to be demolished

Click to play video: 'Eau Claire condo complex that was set to be demolished catches fire'
Eau Claire condo complex that was set to be demolished catches fire
WATCH ABOVE: A condo complex in the Eau Claire area that had already been fenced off and was set to be demolished caught fire on Tuesday night. Michael King reports on what happened and the Calgary Fire Department's response – Jan 29, 2025

A condo complex in Calgary’s Eau Claire area that had already been fenced off and was set to be demolished caught fire on Tuesday night.

In a news release, the Calgary Fire Department said crews were called to a fire in the 100 block of 2 Street S.W. at about 9 p.m. Firefighters encountered “heavy flame and smoke.”

“Crews were able to quickly assess the portion of the building on fire and search the adjacent areas for possible occupants,” the CFD said, adding nobody was found inside the exposed units. “Heavy fire hindered the ability to enter the source unit.

“Crews were able to deploy large volume hose lines on the fire, and aerial apparatus to open the roof area to expose the burning attic. Fire had spread throughout the entire unit and crews fought the fire from the outside.”

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Keith Stahl, a battalion chief with the CFD, said that “while some of the materials have been taken out of the building, it does leave it in a dangerous situation for entry and we did have our crews start to enter the building and [they] were met with missing floors, holes in the floors due to the abatement … [so] we were unable to go into fire’s impacted site.”

The fire department said the part of the condo complex that caught fire was slated for demolition this week. The complex was to be demolished to make way for work on the city’s Green Line LRT project. Some of the complex had already been torn down just a few days earlier.

Click to play video: 'Eau Claire’s River Run townhomes demolished to make way for Green Line Project'
Eau Claire’s River Run townhomes demolished to make way for Green Line Project

“Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control and determined that the condition of the building prohibited entry,” the CFD said.

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“Fire crews worked with on-site demolition contractors to bring down the damaged building while extinguishing hot spots.”

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Jane Lindsay showed up to the scene and was looking at the aftermath of the fire. She told Global News she used to live in the complex, and said she is still upset over how the city acquired the property, arguing she believes the city did not need it to build the Green Line project.

“I am disgusted,” she said. “That is my house right there. …

“We knew that they were all going to be gone, … (but) the fact that it caught on fire, it’s like a turn of the knife.

“I’m at a loss for words but I am so angry.”

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