Vacant downtown Winnipeg apartment building to be demolished after morning fire

A vacant apartment building on Gertie Street will be demolished after a fire early Tuesday, Winnipeg fire officials say.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 4:44 a.m., where they found heavy smoke and flames that made it impossible to enter the building.

Although they were able to attack the blaze from the exterior — and with the help of a drone that gave them an aerial view of the scene — the fire compromised the structural integrity of the building, and arrangements are being made for it to be torn down.

0:21 Winnipeg city crews begin vacant Gertie apartment demolition following destructive fire

Traffic closures on Gertie Street, Bannatyne Avenue, and McDermot Avenue in the area continue throughout the morning and drivers are being asked to avoid the area.

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Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.

0:43 Bylaw billing vacant building homeowners over blazes takes next step