Firefighters respond to yet another fire at former Vulcan Iron Works building

Winnipeg fire crewswere once again fighting a blaze at an industrial building in North Point Douglas that's been hit withseveral fires since it was destroyed last July.

Firefighters are battling third fire at vacant property since it was destroyed by massive blaze last July

Arturo Chang CBC News Posted: Feb 24, 2024 9:57 PM EST | Last Updated: February 25

A building on fire. Fire trucks can bee seen parked beside it. — Smoke and fire coming out of the former Vulcan Iron Works building on Feb. 24, 2024. The property has been hit with recurrent fires since a blaze destroyed the building last July. (Erin Brohman/CBC)

Winnipeg fire crewsare once again fighting ablazeat an industrial building in North Point Douglas that's been hit withseveral fires since it was destroyed by one last summer.

Smoke and billowing flamescould be seen coming out of the former Vulcan Iron Works building on Sutherland Avenue and Maple Street Saturday night. As of 8:25 p.m., Sutherland was closed to traffic between Austin and Argyle streets and several crews were on scene.

They first arrivedjust after 6:40p.m., using chainsaws to break through the wooden fences that surround the property to access the fire tearing through the upper levels of the structure.

A city spokesperson said Saturday that Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service wasresponding to a significant fire involving a vacant warehouse on Sutherland Avenue and Maple Street.

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"Crews are currently attacking the fire from the exterior of the structure as it is not safe to enter," the spokesperson said in an email."It's expected that crews will be on the scene through the night."

The building was ordered to be demolished after a massive fire tore through it last July. Another blaze damaged the structure in September, with the city saying there havebeen several minor fires since then.

A wide view of a large burned down building. — A drone shot shows the charred remains of the former Vulcan Iron Works building in Winnipeg's Point Douglas area after a fire tore through it on July 4, 2023. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

The owner of the property has appealed a city order to clean it up, saying he's fighting a contradictory order from the province requiring work to stop until measures to prevent possible asbestos contamination are taken.

The hearing was pushed back until April 22, while the owner negotiates with the province.

Sirens could be heard around the area throughout the night.

A fire can be seen burning behind a plywood fence. — A city spokesperson said Saturday Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service were responding to a significant involving a vacant warehouse on Sutherland Avenue and Maple Street. (Erin Brohman/CBC)

Diane Sinclair lives in the neighbourhood.

"I get worried right away. I think about homeless people," she said, while watching firefighters work on the blaze.

"[The city] should like, start fixing up places like this.I hope there was nobody in there. Hope nobody fell asleep with a cigarette or anything."

The city said later in a release noinjuries were reported, and thatthe fire is under investigation.

With files from Erin Brohman

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