Just a little bit of excitement downtown today. Shorty before 5pm there was a fairly large fire in an apartment complex downtown.
In fact this apartment fire was right behind the IBM building at 400 Ellice Ave. between it and Portage Place. As I walked over from the GWL offices at 444 St Mary I could see the thick black smoke pouring over the top of Portage Place. I walked up the back lane where lots of people were milling about looking at the fire and all the police and firemen on the scene. This back alley behind the IBM building is where the lockup cage for my bike is located. After changing into my riding gear and taking a few photos I head down to get my bike from the cage only to find that the whole area is cordoned off with “Do No Cross” police tape. I speak to an office about trying to get my bike, but it’s no-go. They are concerned that the fire might spread to a very large power transformer that is right on the edge of the alley across from where my bike is and cause an explosion.
After about a 1/2 hour wait the officer calls me over and I get escorted over to get my bike. We have a brief chat, and I’m on my way. Something a little out of the ordinary, that’s for sure!