A fire in the city's West End is keeping Winnipeg fire crews busy Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to a vacant one-and-a-half-storey, residential and commercial mixed-use building in the 800 block of Wellington Avenue.

At the scene, crews found heavy smoke coming from the structure. Crews were unable to enter the building due to safety concerns. Using an aerial ladder and hand-held hose lines, they fought the fire from the exterior of the building, while also working to protect neighbouring homes. The fire was declared under control at 5:02 a.m. on Wednesday.

Neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported. 

The building is considered a complete loss and will be demolished this morning due to the risk of collapse.

The structure sustained significant damage from smoke, fire, and water. While no damage estimates are available, the building is a complete loss and will be demolished this morning due to the risk of collapse. Neighbouring homes also sustained some water damage.

Wellington Avenue is closed between Arlington Street and Alverstone Street and is expected to remain closed until demolition has been completed.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and find another route.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Crews are still on scene of a fire on Wellington Ave. that started last night. The street is expected to remain closed today as the building is demolished. Details: https://t.co/UqHbY6oD8p #Winnipeg #traffic pic.twitter.com/LLpHAdGZRM

— CHVN Radio (@chvn951) December 14, 2022