LAC LA BICHE - Emergency crews blocked off a section of Lac La Biche's downtown business area on Thursday afternoon as fire crews responded to a call inside an abandoned building along 101B Avenue.
The building — located between Lac La Biche Glass and Mirror and Fountain Tire — was once a second-hand store that also sold adult-content items, but has been shuttered and abandoned for several years. Directly behind the business, across the back alley, is the beginning of residential properties, and the Ecole Ste. Catherine francophone school is also nearby.
While the school, homes and the nearby businesses were not evacuated, first responders were keeping a close watch in case the situation changed.
When fire crews arrived at around 2:30 pm, thick smoke was billowing from door and window frames around the building. The smoke could be seen across the community. Police cordoned off a full block around the scene, as firefighters went inside the building to knock down any flames. An hour after first responding, crews were still at the scene, still trying to extinguish hot-spots, and smoke was still coming from the building.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but witnesses at the scene reported that the building has been occupied from time to time in recent weeks by several homeless individuals.
At the time of the fire, it was not know how long traffic disruptions in the area would last.
More details about the blaze will be published when fire officials have information to share.
