The Canadian Tire store in North Red Deer is temporarily closed after a fire caused a building evacuation and major smoke damage.
Red Deer Emergency Services crews were sent to the large retailer in the Village Mall at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Smoke was seen coming out of the building when fire crews arrived. Customers and employees had already been evacuated, said assistant deputy fire chief Curtis Schaefer, who credited store managers for reacting quickly.
Nineteen firefighters spent the next four hours trying to douse the flames with three fire engines, a ladder truck and command vehicle.
Schaefer said challenges arose with poor visibility inside the store from the thick smoke.
Although heat from the fire had triggered the sprinkler system, firefighters had to vent some of the smoke to be able to locate the source of the blaze, which was found to originate in the seasonal goods section of the store, he added.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Schaefer said there were no injuries and no damage estimate yet.
While there was no structural damage to the building, he added the retailer will have to evaluate the heat, water and smoke damage to merchandise to determine how much of it can be sold.
The Canadian Tire store in the Village Mall remains temporarily closed, but the other Canadian tire location in South Red Deer is open.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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