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In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Edmonton fire department was called to a commercial building fire at the intersection of 118 Avenue and 95 Street. District Chief Justin Knapik described the situation as “really, really difficult,” particularly due to the frigid temperatures that hovered around -33 degrees Celsius, exacerbated by wind chill.
The building, which housed the Avenue Trading Post pawn shop and several other small businesses, became a battleground for firefighters trying to contain the flames.
Intense flames and icy conditions complicate firefighting efforts
Upon arrival, firefighters were met with an overwhelming intensity of flames and smoke, prompting an immediate call for additional resources.
Knapik noted that the initial strategy was to send firefighters inside the building, but the ferocity of the fire forced them to shift to a defensive approach. “We went to a more defensive strategy in order to try and keep the community and the other building safe,” he explained.
The extreme cold not only posed risks to the firefighters but also affected their equipment, making the situation even more precarious.
Freezing water and rotating crews: the harsh realities of winter firefighting
As the firefighters battled the blaze, the water they poured onto the flames quickly froze, transforming the area into a treacherous ice rink.
Knapik mentioned that some hoses became frozen to the ground, complicating their efforts further. “We’re keeping water moving just because as soon as we shut off the water, it immediately freezes up all the hose lines,” he said. To combat the harsh conditions, the department implemented a rotation system for crews, limiting exposure to the extreme cold to three hours or less.
This strategy was crucial in maintaining the safety and effectiveness of the firefighters on the scene.
Community safety prioritized amid the chaos
Despite the challenges posed by the fire and the weather, Knapik confirmed that there were no injuries reported, and fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time of the incident.
The area surrounding 118 Avenue, between 91 and 97 streets, was closed off for several hours as firefighters worked diligently to control the situation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by emergency responders, especially during the winter months.
