An under-construction residential building in Edmonton’s Garneau neighbourhood caught fire Thursday morning.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) received reports of a residential structure fire near 108 Street and 85 Avenue at 11:50 a.m.
The building is confirmed to be an infill three-storey multiplex.
Witnesses reported seeing visible flames and that Edmonton fire crews responded quickly, knocking flames down. The fire was brought under control at 12:36 p.m., EFRS said.
Kevin Seutter, acting district chief with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, told Postmedia that crews had already been in the area when the fire was called in around 11:51 a.m.
Seutter said flames were going “through the roof” of the building and advancing fast as crews arrived.
Residents in homes on either side of the building were evacuated. Witnesses reported that some of the buildings had suffered water damage.
Fuwei Wen, who lives next to the building, said he woke up and opened his door to find firefighters already at work on the scene.
“I saw the fire; it’s pretty bad,” Wen said. “I saw the third storey start collapsing.”
Wen, a recent graduate from the University of Alberta, said he helped his roommates and neighbours evacuate.
Seutter confirmed there were no injuries and said he hopes people will be able to return to their homes once crews can secure the structural stability of the building.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
—With files from Steven Sandor
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