A fire at what is believed to be a vacant apartment building shut down traffic on a street near downtown Winnipeg Tuesday morning, police said.
The fire started at the building on Gertie Street near McDermot Avenue just after 4:30 a.m., a Winnipeg police officer on duty said.
When fire crews arrived around 4:45 a.m., there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the building, the city said in a news release.
Crews were unable to enter the building and used aerial ladders to pour water onto the three-story apartment building, the release said.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service’s drone is also being used to give incident commanders an aerial view of the scene, helping them direct water flows and detect hot spots.
Fire crews were still battling the blaze at 6:30 a.m
UPDATED TRAFFIC INFORMATION:
CLOSING OF GERTIE ST
Emergency crews have closed NB/SB Gertie St between McDermot & Bannatyne due to fire. McDermot & Bannatyne is closed for emergency equipment. The closure is expected to last throughout the day. Please avoid the area. #Wpgtraffic
—@WinnipegTMC
Gertie is expected to remain closed between McDermot and Bannatyne Avenues throughout the day, the Winnipeg Transportation Management Center tweeted. People are asked to avoid the area.
McDermot and Bannatyne were also jailed for emergency equipment, the release said.
The city said because of the fire damage, the building will have to be demolished.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No damage was reported, but the building is considered a total loss, the city said.
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