Regina apartment building catches fire for second time since February

Heavy black smoke and bright orange flames tore through the roof of an apartment complex Saturday morning in Regina.

Emergency responders were called just before 8 a.m. to the building on Angus Street just off Dewdney Avenue behind the McDonald’s after a passerby noticed smoke, explained Deputy Fire Chief Gerard Kay.

“All of a sudden the roof basically lifted up from a small explosion, just a lot of heat and smoke built up in the attic area,” he described. “Fire broke through the attic and through the roofline itself. It became too unstable for us to make entry so we let it burn through the roof and basically the whole roof is gone now.”

Firefighters attacked the fire using suppressant from both the back and front of the structure, dousing the flames from high above with the help of a crane. Thankfully, Kay said it doesn’t appear as if anyone was inside at the time.

“There are no suites being rented at this time so we believe that there should not be anybody in there,” he said.

However, they’ll confirm that once it’s safe for fire crews to get inside and inspect for themselves. Those living next door at another multiplex were evacuated as a precaution.

It’s the second fire at the complex this year after a blaze in February sent two to hospital.

Kay said damage is extensive and the cause unknown at this time, as investigators will now determine how it started.