As Janina McNaughton watched the Quickie Mart on River Avenue go up in flames on Tuesday, she felt relieved.
“The first thing I see is flames, like a fireball of flames inside,” McNaughton said about watching the blaze from her bedroom across the street.
On Wednesday, the bright green building, at 292 River Ave., was boarded up and charred on the outside.
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“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal and it looks worse than it actually is. It’s not that bad,” said Dan Riel, who identified himself as the building’s owner.
Crews from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded at 8:13 p.m. Tuesday to battle the blaze, said the city in a news release. It was under control within the hour.
McNaughton, who is the manager at a nearby apartment building, has lived in the area for 40 years, including at her current place since 2008,
She said in the last several years, the store changed from a family-owned five-and-dime, to a 24/7 business where the traffic was constant and “very suspicious.”
McNaughton said she and others tried to raise their concerns with the owner of the business, but he wasn’t receptive. They had complained about noise, problematic patrons, and when delivery drivers parked on the boulevard.
“I didn’t feel comfortable going to that store,” she said.
She reported suspicious behaviour at the store to police, including heavy overnight traffic and drug use outside the building, but it continued.
She said she wants the building demolished so something else will take its place.
“I am happy. A lot of the residents are happy,” she said, adding one told her: “We’ve got our neighbourhood back.”
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated.
On Wednesday afternoon, Dan Riel, who identified himself as the building’s owner, was on site speaking to a person securing the store. He said he suspects the cause was an electrical issue.
“It’s an old building,” Riel said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal and it looks worse than it actually is. It’s not that bad.”
He said it’s too early to comment on damages or the cause of the fire.
“This is the wrong time to talk,” he said. “We just got here.”
He said the building operates a night window as a security precaution because Fort Rouge Park, which is across the street, has drug users who might break in to the store.
“Night time is super slow,” Riel said. “We just keep a night window open, but mainly it’s just for security. If you don’t do it, people will break into the building. I’d rather not be open at night — I hate it.”
Riel didn’t answer followup phone calls and text messages about alleged problems at the site.
While some residents are pleased the business is boarded, others lamented its loss.
Deanne McConnell, who sometimes picks up litter on River Avenue, including outside the shop in exchange for the occasional discount or extra item, called the fire and closure of the store “a shame.”
“It’s part of the community,” she said. “Lots of people rely on it for a lot amenities,” McConnell said.
She said she saw photos of the fire, which showed the middle of the shop engulfed in flames.
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“It looks like it spread from the bottom to the top,” she said, saying she too relied on the shop.
She said she worries the fire may be suspicious in nature.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” she said. “There’s been a lot of arson around the city lately.”
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service did not provide a damage estimate.
morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca
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