Fire destroys abandoned downtown building

Damage estimated at $1 million, but auto shop next door saved

A fire that consumed an abandoned building downtown Friday morning was accidentally set, said fire investigators.

Firefighters were called to 10530 102nd St. around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, and discovered what they initially believed was some garbage on fire behind the building, said acting district chief Trevor Whyte.

Within an hour, the 7,500-square-foot building — which once housed Designer Cake and Pastry Wholesaler, and adjoins High-Tech Auto Body to the south — was engulfed, with flames shooting from its roof and dark smoke billowing from its blown-out windows.

It was under control by 3:30 a.m., and declared out at 6:45 a.m. Damage was estimated at $1 million to the burnedout building, but firefighters were able to save the auto shop, which was expected to reopen for business Friday, despite some smoke and water damage.

Michael Tucker, spokesman for Edmonton Fire Rescue, said it appears a homeless encampment was set up in the rear stairwell of the building, where the fire was sparked in garbage, including tires, mattresses and car seats.

Firefighters were searching inside the building shortly after they arrived at the scene when they realized the flames had spread, Whyte said.

“We managed to get a primary search done of the basement and the main floor before we noticed it had migrated up into the attic space … which was pretty much fully involved. It had gone about 20 feet over our interior attack guys’ heads,” said Whyte, as firefighters poured water onto the blaze behind him.

“It had crawled up into there somehow and then when it flared, it took off.”

Crews then switched gears, attacking the blaze from outside. Firefighters were at the scene most of the night.

The abandoned building was boarded up when crews arrived and there didn’t appear to be anybody inside, Whyte said. No injuries were reported.

More than a dozen fire department vehicles were at the scene, along with around 40 firefighters and several Edmonton police officers.

Firefighters on ladders shot heavy streams of water into the roof and others on the ground trained hoses at the front and back of the building. Water rushed down a staircase and through the front door onto the street.