Major fire at Lang’s Cafe in downtown Regina

Firefighters remain at the scene of a major blaze at Lang’s Cafe on Broad Street in downtown Regina.

Crews were called to the multi-storey building just before 6 a.m. CT Wednesday as heavy, black smoke filled the area.

Deputy fire chief David Kinvig said the first crews to arrive entered the building to fight the fire, but were turned back after a few feet due to the intensity of the blaze.

A defensive mode was then established around the area to protect other structures.

1:41 Major fire at Lang’s Cafe in downtown Regina

Kinvig said crews will remain on the scene for most of the day due to the building collapsing, making it hard to get at the fire underneath the structure.

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No injuries have been reported and Kivnig said they don’t believe anyone was inside the building at the time of the fire.

In a Facebook post, Lang’s Cafe thanked Regina Fire and the Regina Police Service for their work in battling the fire.

“We are grateful that no one was hurt and we are thankful for your service and the outpouring of support,” the post reads. “Our family is devastated by the fire as the restaurant meant so much more to us. It a place for us to connect with the community and has been in our family for generations.”

At least three neighbouring businesses announced they are closed until further notice due to the fire. Wonderland Entertainment Centre, Miyosiwin Salon Spa and Jin Pal Hapkido announced through Facebook they are closed until further notice.

Rod Kempa, the owner of the building that houses Miyosiwin Salon and Spa, Jin Pal Hapkido, and Wascana Donair and Shawarma praised the firefighters for their efforts to save his building from the blaze, but noted it didn’t escape unscathed.

The fire also set off smoke alarms at a hotel across the street when smoke made it’s way into the building through the ventilation units.

“My main units are bringing air into the building and it brought some smoke in, so I had some guests that had an early wake up call at six o’clock in the morning,” Mike Weese the maintenance manager for Wingate by Wyndham Regina said.

He added that they were able to quickly stop the smoke from entering the building, and that there was no danger to any guests.

Kinvig noted that it could take a day or two for investigators to determine the cause of the fire.