City estimates municipal building fires caused at least $1M in damage - Action News
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Calgary

City estimates municipal building fires caused at least $1M in damage

The City of Calgary says, based on an initial review, the estimated cost of a series of fires at the citys municipal building will be $1.3 to $2.2 million.

Deliberately set fires the triggered sprinkler system during a break-in

Carpet dryers, caution tape and other equipment strewn across a hall at the Calgary Municipal Building after a series of small fires caused sprinklers to flood three floors of the building. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)

The City of Calgary says, based on an initial review, the estimated cost of a series of fires set inside the city's municipal building will be at least $1.3 million.

Much ofbut not all of that costwill be covered by insurance.

Last week, police said a man gained access to the Calgary Municipal Building at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 2 by smashing the building's glass exterior and set multiple fires around the complex.

Police took one man into custody. Police said he is a client of the Police and Crisis Teamand is getting the care he needs.

Water-damaged ceiling tiles show some of the damage at the Calgary Municipal Building. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)

The fires activated the building's sprinkler system. Carla Male, acting city manager,said that caused extensive water damageaffecting three levels of the building and equipment inside.

"While it will be many months before we know the final cost, our team has been working hard to assess the scope of the damage and work with the city's insurer."

Based on an initial review, the anticipated cost from this incident will be between $1.3 million and $2.2 million, the city said in a media release.

Dryers, damaged ceiling and caution tape block what would normally be a busy centre of city services in the Calgary Municipal Building. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)

This includes the emergency response required to minimize the damage, stabilization activity, including temporary relocation of services, and restoration of the building and affected furniture and equipment. Of this, an anticipated 80 per cent will be covered by insurance.

Some affected services located on the closed floors of the buildingwill returnthis month, while others will continue in their temporary locations.