Homes evacuated, firefighter taken to hospital following Point Douglas warehouse fire

Some Point Douglas area homes have been evacuated as a precaution and one firefighter has been taken to hospital as crews continue to battle a large fire burning in an abandoned warehouse that could take days to extinguish.

Some Point Douglas area homes have been evacuated as a precaution and one firefighter has been taken to hospital as crews continue to battle a large fire burning in an abandoned warehouse that could take days to extinguish.

Grey, thick smoke could be seen billowing from the area Tuesday afternoon. Pahul Singh had been in the area on his lunch break when he saw the smoke that he said made the sky pitch black.

"There was one fire truck followed by many more, and there was a lot of ambulances and it was just crazy," he said.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the fire around 11:20 a.m., and will likely remain on scene for several days.

The city confirmed a number of homes close to the fire have been temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Jamie Vanderhorst, assistant chief of WFPS fire and rescue operations, said so far, the reports suggest the building was empty and there was no one inside. However, there’s been no way for fire crews to enter the building and verify.

He noted that it is safe to say the building is a total loss, as the roof has caved in, though no damage estimates are available.