Winnipeg, MB – At 5:53 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to an automatic alarm at a large, single-storey commercial structure in the 1300 block of Notre Dame Avenue. A second alarm was called, increasing the number of apparatus and WFPS crew members on scene due to the size of the structure.
Once crews arrived, they observed smoke and flames coming from the structure. Due to conditions that made it unsafe to enter the structure, they launched a defensive attack, deploying two aerial ladders and handlines to extinguish the fire. The WFPS drone provided the Incident Commander with situational awareness, directing crews to the exact location of the flames.
No injuries are being reported at this time.
Crews are expected to be on-scene for an extended period of time. Notre Dame Avenue is closed in both directions from Erin Street to Flint Street. Atmospheric conditions are pushing smoke to ground level. Motorists and residents who are sensitive to smoke are advised to avoid the area.
The building has sustained major structural damage. No damage estimates are available at this time. The cause of the fire is under investigation.