Investigators probe rubble for cause of fire that destroyed business block - Action News
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Manitoba

Investigators probe rubble for cause of fire that destroyed business block

A fire that lasted more than 30 hours is finally out and now investigators are trying to figure out what started it.

Hydro crews working to fix nearby power lines damaged by fire that cut off electricity to some customers

Streetlights, power poles and hydro lines are coated in ice around the area where crews were spraying down a fire for close to 30 hours. (Tyson Koschik/CBC)

A fire that lasted more than 30 hours isfinally out and now investigators aretrying to figure out what started it.

The fire,which began just after 3:15 p.m. Monday,destroyed a multi-business building onRoseberryStreet in Winnipeg's St. James area.

Fire investigators will be going through the ice-coated rubble from the Roseberry Street fire. (Tyson Koschik/CBC)

Crews fought it through the night Monday and all day Tuesday, finally clearing the scene at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to fire officials.

Thetwo-storey structure, which contained four businesses, is now little more than a rubble and ice sculpture.The torrent of water used to fight the flames has left itcoated in icicles.

Roseberry Street was coated in ice, as were power lines and poles, as crews poured water on the fire throughout Tuesday. (Manitoba Hydro/Twitter)

Investigators will be on the scene Wednesday and possibly Thursday and Friday going through the wreckage to find the cause. Platoon Chief Bruce Melnyksaid Tuesday he believes the firestarted in 588 Roseberry,a printing business in one of the centre units of the block.

Fortunately, there were no injuries. Staff of the businesses hadevacuated the building by the time fire crews arrived, fire officials said.

The flamesand ice also damaged nearby hydropoles,power lines andtransformers, which cut electricitytoseveral Manitoba Hydro customers in the area.

Power was restored to a handful of them by Tuesday morning but others are still waiting.

Half Pints Brewing, at 550 Roseberry, was one of those impacted by the outage, which forced them to dispose of1,000 litres of an IPA that was being made.

The fire on Roseberry Street began just after 3:15 p.m. Monday and crews remained on scene until 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. (Tyson Koschik/CBC)

The brewery thanked Manitoba Hydro for restoring power in time to re-brew the batch on Tuesday.

Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said crews from the utility are on scene to repair and replacethe equipment that serves a half-dozen neighbouring buildings.

"There is significant ice around the site that will make repairs challenging," he said, noting three digger crews and two dump trucks with sand and gravel have been sent to the area.

"We have additional equipment on standby to assist with the excavation and ice removal efforts.We'll update with estimated restoration times later today once we know the extent of damage."