Crews battle major fire at Winnipeg lumber yard Sunday morning

A hearth at a lumber yard is inflicting the skies in downtown Winnipeg to be stuffed with darkish smoke Sunday morning. 

The Winnipeg Fireplace Paramedic Service responded to stories of the blaze at round 1:36 a.m. Sunday morning, a information launch from the Metropolis of Winnipeg stated. A second alarm was known as, which meant extra crews responded to the scene at Logan Avenue. 

Logan Avenue and Alexander Avenue between Arlington Road and McPhillips Road are closed, the discharge stated. 

“Gigantic hearth, insane quantity of smoke,” stated Bryce Chan, who lives near the fireplace.

“This can be a lot of smoke, smoke injury in your entire space,” stated Steven Bruce, who’s an affiliate of a enterprise within the space that works on automobiles. Bruce was nervous Sunday morning about how the smoke could impression automobiles on the storage. 

Six properties on Alexander Avenue have been quickly evacuated as a precaution and residents are quickly taking shelter in Winnipeg Transit buses. 

District chief for the Winnipeg Fireplace Paramedic Service John Senkowsky stated he spoke to the proprietor of the constructing, who stated varied lumber merchandise, {hardware}, paints and varnishes are inside. Senkowsky stated he expects crews to stay on scene till late afternoon. 

Senkowsky stated one firefighter sustained a “slight damage” however was assessed on scene and didn’t have to be taken to hospital.

Senkowsky stated crews are extra involved concerning the air high quality of the world. He stated the smoke will seemingly be staying low “for the following whereas.” He’s advising individuals keep inside with doorways and home windows closed. He stated Winnipeg Transit is on the scene and out there to take individuals elsewhere if wanted. 

“Air high quality goes to be very poor … as a result of comparatively excessive humidity and the air wind speeds,” he stated. 

The Metropolis of Winnipeg additionally stated in a tweet Sunday morning that persons are being requested to keep away from the world. They’re additionally encouraging residents who reside close to the fireplace to shut any home windows and doorways to guard the air high quality of their properties.