5 teens suspected in $1M fire that destroyed Winnipeg apartment

Winnipeg police are looking for five teenagers aftera dramatic downtown firerazed a century-old apartment building Monday night.

They say three girls and two boys, between the ages of 14-15, have been identified as suspects, based on witness reports.

Neighbours told CBC News the building at 44HargraveStreethad, in recent years,become a place where people would break in and hang out.

"There were often people around the building, checking it out, trying to get inside," saidLori Schroeder, who lives across the lane from the building. "And there were people around yesterday, but I really didn't think much of it as it was kind of common."

Damage is estimated at $1 million, police saidTuesday.

"It was pretty intense. I was watching TV and all of a sudden I looked out the window and there were huge flames shooting out this old building that was either being renovated or whatever," said Schroeder.

"Yeah, it was pretty scary.All of our neighbours were downstairs and we came and checked it out."

The fire broke out just before 7 p.m. andtook nearly 45 firefighterstwo hours to put out.Neighbouring apartment buildings were evacuated and power was shut off for some450 customers due to safety concerns.

Everyone was back in their suites on Tuesday and power had been restored.

KenilworthCourt had been vacant since 2007. The fire escape was recently removed and over the past six months the front of the building was demolished.

"No one was really sure what was going on with the building,"Schroeder said. "To be honest with you, it was an eyesore, soit might be nice to have a different landscape. But if they were trying to renovate it, it's unfortunate that this was all lost."

A city spokesperson said an order was issued in December 2014 to demolish or rehabilitate the building. A deadline passed, and the city was in the process of demolition. But then the owner recently applied to rehabilitate or renovate the building.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 204-986-6813or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).