Firefighters worked Tuesday night and early Wednesday to contain a strip mall fire in Riverside Drive Industrial area where part of the building’s roof collapsed.
At about 10 p.m., Red Deer Emergency Services personnel responded to the fire at Sadona Cabinets, at 4630 61st St., located in bay five and the back half of bay six in the six-bay strip mall.
During the fire, the roof collapsed over those two bays, making it unsafe for firefighters to enter.
The fire was contained by about 6:30 a.m.
Tim Kivell, fire prevention officer, said firefighters were successful in limiting damage at the strip mall and were still on site on Wednesday morning to continue to put out hot spots.
“Sadona Cabinets is a woodworking shop. They make cabinets and do some finishing on the cabinets as well. But we haven’t been able to get inside to look at any of the equipment,” Kivell said on Wednesday morning.
A data management company occupies the front section of bay six.
The structural stability of the fire-damaged areas were being assessed on Wednesday morning and investigators expected to get inside by the afternoon.
“We’re estimating damages in excess of $1 million.”
Two firefighters were taken to hospital for assessment and were released. No other injuries were reported.
Kivell said bays four, five and six are off-limits to the public as the investigation continues and 61st Street was closed Wednesday morning.
Bay four is the only bay not occupied by a business.
“The other half of the building, it’s business as usual,” Kivell said.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com