Emergency crews are working to make sure all residents are accounted for following a massive blaze at a Brandon condo building Tuesday night.
Police were called to the four-floor building at 1400 Pacific Avenue around 8:45 p.m.
“Likely it’s a total loss, the loss will be in the millions,” Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said Wednesday.
On Tuesday Sgt. Kirby Sararas of the Brandon Police Service told Global News there was no immediate word of any injuries, adding officers had been able to get in the building and knock on each door to try and evacuate residents.
In an update Wednesday morning police said the fire had been put out but crews remained on scene to monitor the structure.
They said authorities were still working to make sure all residents from the 48-unit building are accounted for and an investigation into the cause of the blaze will start after fire inspectors are able to assess any safety concerns.
“The extent of the damage is significant from fire, smoke and water,” police said in Wednesday’s release.
Meanwhile, Pacific Avenue was still closed to traffic and pedestrians Wednesday morning and police asked people to avoid the area if possible.
People had been asked to stay away from downtown Brandon while crews worked to put out the fire Tuesday night.
Chrest told 680 CJOB the condo building was roughly 10 years old. He said losing that much housing stock will be a challenge for the city.
“We don’t have a deep vacancy rate so it’ll take a bit to get people re-homed following this,” he said.
“Any fire is certainly tragic, but when you have one that impacts so many households … certainly a very difficult situation.”
Arrangements to help those who have were forced to leave the building were started by several local organizations Tuesday.
Brandon University said Wednesday “multiple members” of the school’s community had been affected by the fire.
The university said its offering supports, including a place to stay, counselling, and emergency cash, for affected students, faculty and staff.
Residents of neighbouring buildings were also evacuated as a precaution as the fire burned Tuesday, but police said Wednesday no other structures were damaged.
–With files from Shane Gibson