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Massive fire at nearly completed Cineplex Odeon movie theatre in Seton

Click to play video: 'Southeast Calgary fire destroys movie theatre'
Southeast Calgary fire destroys movie theatre
WATCH: The Seton Cineplex Odeon in southeast Calgary was weeks away from its grand opening when a fire destroyed the building Sunday night leaving nothing behind. Gary Bobrovitz reports – Nov 6, 2017

A large fire caused significant damage to a new movie theatre under construction in the community of Seton on Sunday.

Firefighters were called to the nearly completed Cineplex Odeon on Seton Circle S.E. at around 7 p.m.

When they arrived, crews found a large volume of smoke pouring out of the theater.

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At one point the fire was so intense flames were spotted coming through the roof of the structure.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) said approximately 50 firefighters used 13 pieces of equipment to fight the flames.

No injuries were reported.

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WATCH: Raw video from a Global News viewer Maddie Forester shows a fire at the new Cineplex Odeon Seton on Sunday night.

Click to play video: 'Crews battle fire at Cineplex theater in south Calgary Sunday'
Crews battle fire at Cineplex theater in south Calgary Sunday

The theatre was being built with seven traditional movie screens, three VIP screens, and one Ultra AVX screen, according to the Seton urban district website.

Stephane Heroux, a subcontractor working on the project, drove to Seton after hearing about the fire.

“I got a few texts, a few phone calls, saying ‘guess what? Your project is on fire.’”

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Calgary firefighters battle a blaze at the unopened Cineplex Odeon Seton on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. Global News

The stand-alone building was scheduled to open within weeks.

“We put our heart and soul [into] trying to get this building done before Christmas … the fire has set us back maybe a couple months,” Heroux said.

Heroux said it looked as though it was one of the three VIP screens that may have sustained most of the damage.

In a statement, Sarah Van Lange from Cineplex Odeon said they are in the process of assessing the damage caused and are unsure when the theatre will open.

“We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the local fire department and the Calgary police for their support on the scene and are so grateful that no one was injured.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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On Monday morning, Carol Henke with the CFD said fire crews had not yet been able to enter the area of the theatre where it’s believed the fire started.

“The wall is sort of leaning and so it’s not currently safe to go in.”

Anyone with information, photos or video of the fire is asked to email piofire@calgary.ca.

With files from Doug Vaessen

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