REGINA – Saturday morning fire crews were called to an intense apartment fire on Angus Street near Dewdney Avenue. This is the second time this year the building has gone up in flames.
Shortly after 8 a.m. a passerby called 911 reporting smoke coming from the top of the building.
“When crews arrived they had heavy, heavy black smoke coming from the second floor. Shortly after that the roof lifted up from a small explosion. Just a lot of heat and smoke that built up in the attic area,” explained Deputy Fire Chief Gerard Kay.
Not long after, the roof collapsed, preventing firefighters from doing a sweep of the apartments. However, they do not think anyone was inside.
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“There are no suites being rented at this time so we believe there should not be anybody in there,” said Kay.
The apartment building next door was evacuated as a precaution. Jadin Murray ran out with just her pajamas on.
“I woke up and there was just some banging next door. I didn’t really think anything of it and went back to bed. All of a sudden the police were knocking on our door telling us to evacuate because the building was on fire.”
Neighbours say the building had been trouble in the past, many saying squatters had been spending the night lately.
“Two nights ago there was a break and enter with two kids. I ended up calling the police and they came and booted them out,” said Mitchell Brown.
“The history of it is it’s quite the problem house. Unfortunately it’s not too bad that it’s going up in flames right now. A lot of activity goes on there. Last summer there was lots of parties and fighting and stuff like that. Now that’s going to be put to an end,” he added.
After a basement fire here in February sent two people to hospital, the building was boarded up. But emergency crews said now that the roof caved in the damage is extensive.
“This will probably be a total loss,” said Kay.
There is no word yet on a cause.
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