Headlines News
Massive fire destroys Winnipeg business

El Dorado Trading Centre, a bathroom and kitchen renovation business, was completely destroyed.

Demolition crews tore down the remaining structure while two businesses on either side escaped serious damage.

The city said two people were inside when the fire started, but
managed to escape before firefighters arrived on scene.

The cause of the blaze hasn’t been determined but the arson unit has been called in to investigate.

One of the owners of Minute Muffler, located next to El Dorado Trading Centre, said he’s lucky the wind was blowing away from his business.

“Very lucky; a different day it could have been, a whole different game,” said Tim Kehler.

Mike Page lives a few houses down from the fire. He couldn’t help but watch the flames and the strange colours coming from the building.

“Everyone I talked to was concerned because the flames weren’t going down for a while,” said Page.

Alex Forrest, president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg, said the union had several concerns with the huge blaze, saying it was evident from the smoke several cancer causing-chemicals were burning in the fire.

“It was an absolute kaleidoscope of cancer-causing agents that you could just see; and given it was a defensive fire, (firefighters) couldn’t wear their masks and be in that smoke,”
Forrest said Monday.

He said firefighters did a good job saving the nearby businesses and warning people living in the area about the dangerous smoky conditions.

“The firefighters were here within two to three minutes and this building was fully engulfed,” said Forrest. “It looked like there were multiple fires inside as well, so you could tell this was a serious fire.”