THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Fire Rescue crews battled a significant commercial building fire at the Centrefolds Nightclub fire on Memorial Avenue early Monday morning, Aug. 10.
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke, intense heat and near-zero visibility inside the structure.
No injuries were reported, and fire crews confirmed no one was inside the building.
Second alarm called as thick black smoke filled area
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue was dispatched to the structural fire at approximately 2:30 a.m.
When the first crews arrived, firefighters encountered large volumes of thick black smoke coming from the commercial building. A second alarm was requested to bring additional personnel and equipment to the scene.
The first arriving crew forced entry into the building and began an interior fire attack.
Firefighters encountered intense flames and zero visibility because of the dense smoke.
During the initial attack, extreme heat conditions forced the crew to temporarily withdraw from the building.
Crews overcome difficult interior conditions
Through a co-ordinated firefighting operation, crews were able to regain control of the situation and extinguish the fire.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue reports that the blaze caused significant damage to the interior of the building.
Firefighters searched the structure and confirmed no occupants were inside.
No firefighters or members of the public were injured during the incident.
Cause of Memorial Avenue fire under investigation
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is holding the scene while investigators work to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
No cause had been released as of Monday afternoon.
Commercial building fires can present significant challenges for firefighters because of large interior spaces, combustible materials and rapidly changing heat and smoke conditions.
The fire also highlights the importance of Memorial Avenue as one of Thunder Bay’s major commercial corridors, where an emergency response can affect nearby businesses and traffic even when the incident occurs during overnight hours.
Fire Rescue urges immediate 911 calls
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is reminding residents and business owners to call 911 as soon as a fire is discovered.
Early notification allows emergency crews to respond sooner and can help limit the spread of fire, reduce property damage and protect people who may be inside or nearby.
Anyone who discovers a fire should leave the building, move to a safe location and call 911 rather than attempting to re-enter the structure.
