At news time (7:30pm CT) a fire at Simon Quan Store on Queen Street was just getting under control.
The fire was smoldering inside the massive warehouse structure, which borders the Angelus Press on one side and extends for half a block to New Road next to Holy Redeemer Upper School.
It was first observed at a few minutes before 5:00 pm and when we got out there at 5:30 only a modest plume of smoke was streaming from inside. Still it's within a huge building in a congested area and just a few minutes ago, Fire Chief Henry Baizer told us that it must be contained.
Henry Baizer, Fire Chief
"It's an internal fire and that's all we can say at the moment because we really don't know what's happening. We just setting up and the fire is internal and we hope that it will stay in there. We are setting up to ensure the fire don't go anywhere else. That's what we are doing at the present moment."
Jules Vasquez,
"Have you gotten any water in there yet?"
Henry Baizar,
"Yes we got water from the side."
Jules Vasquez,
"How has the response been from your early assessment?"
Henry Baizar,
"I can't say much because we have been fighting the fire from that side and we tried to push it this way rather than that other direction."
Jules Vasquez,
"Obviously its in a volatile area, it has so many buildings, schools, the police station, and the Angelus Press. How serious a situation is this in making sure that you guys suppress the situation?"
Henry Baizar,
"It's very serious and we will do our best to try and suppress and I don't think we will allow it to go to any other building."
Sebastian 'Sabe' Nunez, Witness
"I went into the place and mostly saw smoke. I told the firemen to come on this side because I saw smoke but they didn't listen to me. I am just a civilian trying to help."
Jules Vasquez,
"You have any idea what's on fire in there?"
Sebastian Nunez,
"Well I know what the man has in there. I think everybody knows what Simon Quan sell so I think that is what is on fire."
Jules Vasquez,
"You work here?" [Referring to Simon Quan Store]
Sebastian Nunez,
"No, I don't but every fire which catch I always try to help everybody. It doesn't matter what people say, I just try to help whether they are rich or poor."
Latest reports are that at news time the fire appeared to have been under control and fire teams were moving out.