Canada - Multiple Fires Devastate Downtown Brandon (Video)

Several fires broke out through several buildings in downtown Brandon, Manitoba Saturday including at an apartment complex managed by community groups. Premier Brian Pallister called the fire "massive" in a statement Saturday evening. Debbie Huntinghawk is president of the Brandon Friendship Center which managed some of the residences in the 58-suite Massey Manor. Huntinghawk said, "It's just devastating. We're thinking of all the families that live in that building."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Part of the building just collapsed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcmb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bdnmb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bdnmb</a> <a href="https://t.co/MLKTJCVMCk">pic.twitter.com/MLKTJCVMCk</a></p>&mdash; Riley Laychuk (@RileyLaychuk) <a href="https://twitter.com/RileyLaychuk/status/997901924031545344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Brandon's director of risk and emergency management Brian Kayes said the fire started in an office and school supplies store across from Massey Manor around 12 pm Saturday. The fire quickly spread to surrounding businesses including Massey Manor, a bar, and a beer store. City officials warned that embers from the fire were drifting "a significant distance" and were threatening to spark more fires. Firefighters from surrounding areas and the Canadian Forces Base Shilo showed up to help battle the blaze.

Kayes said, "The people that lived in Massey Manor went outside to watch the fire and then unbeknownst to them, their building caught fire. So pretty well everyone had already evacuated from that building to watch the fire." The Premier tweeted, "Watching with deep concern as a massive fire devours downtown Brandon landmarks. Thanks to Brandon firefighters and police personnel for keeping Brandonites safe."

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Lorne Masionier, a board member at the Brandon Friendship Center said, "You can't live in it now, and probably the whole building would be a loss, no doubt." Crews worked for hours using backhoes to pull down walls in an attempt to get the flames contained. The Canadian Red Cross said it was accepting registrations from people who lost their homes in the fire.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watching with deep concern as a massive fire devours downtown Brandon landmarks. Thanks to Brandon fire fighters and police personnel for keeping Brandonites safe. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mbpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mbpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bdnmb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bdnmb</a> <a href="https://t.co/zb2IITyciL">pic.twitter.com/zb2IITyciL</a></p>&mdash; Brian Pallister (@Brian_Pallister) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brian_Pallister/status/997926484797878272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/devastating-multiple-fires-burn-through-downtown-brandon-man-1.3937781