Fire destroys building in downtown Athabasca
A fire at a commercial building in Athabasca's downtown caused road closures and detours Wednesday evening.
According to locals, the building near 50 Street and 50 Avenue used to be a Home Hardware.
Witnesses told CTV News Edmonton the fire started around 6:55 p.m.
Kat Budzinski, who lives in the nearby town Boyle, said she and her boyfriend were on a date when they saw smoke.
"They have construction next door for the water plant, so we thought maybe.... But it looks really suspicious. It looks like it's coming out of Home Hardware," she recalled.
At the building, flame was visible and people on scene said the fire department had already been alled.
An emergency alert was sent at 8:11 p.m. telling people in the area that the heavy smoke was "significantly impacting the area." It ended shortly after midnight.
RCMP closed some roads in the area so crews had room to work.
They were expected to remain on scene past midnight, according to an update from the Athabasca Fire Department.
"Crews remain on scene of the structure fire at the old home hardware location and will do so throughout the night. Please continue to avoid the area while we work to make it safe," the notice read.
The department also thanked firefighters from Colinton, Grassland and Boyle for their help, and Sals Famous and Heritage Society for feeding and offering shelter to responders.
Officials said no injuries were reported and the fire was under investigation.
Athabasca Mounties asked anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage from the time, or other related information, to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
According to Budzinski, Home Hardware only recently moved from the building.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland says she is 'not going anywhere' after Conservatives call her 'phantom finance minister'
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland declared she is 'not going anywhere' when pushed by the Conservatives on Monday about her future as finance minister.
'Never seen anything like this': Humpback whale catches unsuspecting seal off Vancouver Island
A Vancouver Island nature photographer says he has never seen anything like what his camera captured on a recent whale-watching excursion off Victoria.
First teen sentenced in Kenneth Lee case gets 15 months probation
The first teenager to be sentenced in the death of a Toronto homeless man will not face further time in custody, and instead participate in a community-based program.
Body recovered from B.C. lake after unclothed man leads investigators to crash site
Mounties are investigating a fatal crash north of Whistler, B.C., after an unclothed man who was found along the side of the road led police to a pickup truck submerged in a lake with one occupant still inside.
Mortgage loan rules are changing in Canada
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home.
A passing comet could shine as bright as Venus. Here are the best viewing times
This eye-catching celestial event is around the corner and will appear in the skies this fall.
Pipeline explosion near Houston erupts in a towering flame, forcing evacuations
A pipeline explosion near Houston erupted in a towering flame over neighbourhoods for hours on Monday, forcing evacuations and shelter orders and melting playground equipment as firefighters struggled to keep nearby homes from burning.
'We don't have much time': Parliament's fall sitting begins with plenty of political posturing
The fall sitting of Parliament began Monday with plenty of political posturing given the new minority dynamics and the threat of an early general election looming overhead.
GoFundMe cancels fundraiser for Ontario woman charged with spraying neighbour with a water gun
A Simcoe, Ont. woman charged with assault with a weapon after accidentally spraying her neighbour with a water gun, says GoFundMe has now pulled the plug on her online fundraiser.