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Winnipeg fire crews battle blaze at New Directions building on Portage Avenue

Click to play video: 'Winnipeg fire crews battle blaze at New Directions building on Portage Avenue'
Winnipeg fire crews battle blaze at New Directions building on Portage Avenue
No injuries are being reported after a fire broke out at an office building on Portage Avenue near downtown Winnipeg Monday morning – Jan 3, 2022

No injuries are being reported after fire broke out at an office building on Portage Avenue near downtown Winnipeg Monday morning.

The city says fire crews were called to the fire at 717 Portage Avenue around 10:49 a.m.

The  five-storey building is home to New Directions, a non-profit that provides support to families and children, including therapy, home support and cultural services.

A post on New Directions website later Monday afternoon said no one was injured in the fire, which they say started on the first floor.

Smoke billows out of first floor windows from a fire at 717 Portage Avenue. Rudi Pawlychyn/Global News

“We do not have a full idea of the damage at this time, but we are going to keep the main office closed until further notice,” the post reads.

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The city said firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the building which led to a second alarm being called and more crews arriving at the blaze.

A Global News camera person at the scene said at least nine fire trucks were responding to the fire around 11:15 a.m.

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The fire was declared under control by 11:44 a.m., the city said in a release.

 

A tweet from Winnipeg Transit said Portage Avenue was closed at Sherbrook Street due to the fire and several bus routes were rerouted.

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The city says the cause of the fire is now under investigation.

An estimate on damage was not immediately available, but the city said the building suffered significant smoke, fire, and water damage.

–With files from Rudi Pawlychyn

 

 

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