Winnipeg police are urging area residents to shelter in place in the aftermath of a large-scale North Point Douglas structure fire.
Police said Tuesday afternoon they were going door-to-door in the immediate area around the Sutherland Avenue blaze, asking people to stay inside and keep windows closed as firefighting efforts continue at the industrial site.
Provincial officials are also at the scene to monitor air quality.
District chief Rob Labossiere of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) said a number of nearby homes were evacuated early Tuesday morning, and that firefighters’ main goal is to keep the community safe.
Over a dozen Winnipeg fire crews and about 20 pieces of equipment — including three aerial ladders — were called to the scene of the massive fire on Sutherland Avenue between Maple Street North and Argyle Avenue. when the blaze started around 5 a.m.
“It’s always a concern in multi-use industrial buildings, because we don’t know what’s inside,” Labossiere said.
“Our concern is just to protect the citizens of Winnipeg and our crews onsite.”
Potential effects on the environment are also being taken into consideration, as firefighters say the site — part of which was occupied by businesses, while another section was vacant — contained tires, fuel, vehicles and other dangerous items.
“All fires are toxic and all carry different contaminants in them. Our concern is to minimize that exposure,” Labossiere said.
Area resident Pauline Meekis has a 10-month-old grandchild at home and worries how the smoke will affect her and her family.
“We don’t even know, no explanation like what is going on, what kind of chemicals?” she told Global News.
“It’s pretty dangerous for us in the neighbourhood.”
Meekis said she wants more information from officials on evacuation orders and how long the blaze may last before its put out.
WFPS platoon chief Doug Grieve told 680 CJOB that the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
“We’ve had some collapse zones take place. Word is the front building which is burning has tire storage, so we’ve had heavy smoke in the neighbourhood,” he said.
“We understand that the roof collapsed in part of the structure last winter due to the snow load.”
The size of the blaze, deputy fire chief Tom Wallace said, is the equivalent to an entire city block.
The fire has caused a number of traffic delays, and the city said that section of Sutherland Avenue will remain closed throughout the morning, with the potential for other nearby streets to be affected throughout Tuesday as well.
People who live nearby are being advised to close their windows, and drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are asked to avoid the area.
“We are monitoring the wind direction and wind speed and will be taking that into account in the event we need to consider evacuations,” said Wallace.
“It would really depend on the wind conditions, the intensity of fire, and the smoke conditions.”
Coun. Brian Mayes said a fire of this kind demonstrates the importance of Winnipeg having a strong fire department.
“It does make you realize why we have a fire department,” Mayes told Global Winnipeg.
“People say ‘cut back the firefighters, they’re just doing ambulance calls’ — (but) then this is a city block on fire. This is a big deal here.”
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene putting out spot fires for a number of hours — well into Tuesday evening, potentially through Wednesday morning.