Winnipeg’s century-old Windsor Hotel a ‘total loss’ following fire

Plumes of smoke could be seen in downtown Winnipeg as fire crews battled an immense blaze at the Windsor Hotel Wednesday afternoon.

Over 60 firefighters and paramedics responded to the fire, with flames visible from the outside, and smoke filling entire city blocks.

Ray Murray looked on as the hotel burned. He was saddened by the blaze, saying while he’s never been inside, it was a regular part of his commute.

“Sad. Very sad,” he explained. “I used to walk by this building every day.”

Firefighters can be seen working on a blaze at the Windsor Hotel on Sept. 13, 2023 and fire officials say the number of older buildings catching fire is concerning. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski, CityNews)

As smoke billowed through the downtown, the nearby Winnipeg Police Service headquarters was closed to the public for the day and residents at Beacon Hill Lodge were advised to shelter in place.

Jarod Strelenikow wasn’t surprised the hotel went up in smoke, saying he’d give it a rating of “one star.”

“These places are not safe. There’s something that needs to be done,” said Strelenikow. “They have just been left to really just rot.”

Jarod Strelenikow, who witnessed the fire on Wednesday afternoon, says he’s not surprised to see the Windsor Hotel up in smoke, saying he feels the hotel was left to rot. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski, CityNews)

Residents at the Windsor Hotel were given eviction notices in February, as the hotel was set to be sold.

On Wednesday afternoon, officials with the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service say the building was boarded up when the fire started around 11 a.m.

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Platoon chief Brent Cheater told reporters he was pleased with the work of his crews but that the structure is a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation; the platoon chief asked the public to keep their eyes peeled.

“We were presented with a pretty daunting fire in a building that’s highly combustible, and it’s old,” said Cheater.

“Any time you have vacant buildings, if you see people hanging around them that don’t look like they need to be there, notify police. Even if you contact the non-emergency number and inform them there’s suspicious activity. The only way we’re going to stop problems with buildings spontaneously igniting throughout the city, that don’t have an official cause to them, is by the participation of the citizens of the City of Winnipeg.”

Brent Cheater, Platoon Chief of Fire and Rescue with the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services speaks with reports on Sept. 13, 2023 following a massive fire at the Windsor Hotel. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski, CityNews)

The building was constructed as a boarding house in 1903 at a time when Winnipeg was booming, and later converted to a hotel.

Cindy Tugwell with Heritage Winnipeg says the hotel was one of the last of its kind on the street.

“It’s a huge loss,” said Tugwell. “We lose a piece of our history, and I also say a little piece of our soul, our identity. I think that every building, our built heritage, is a testament to the social history and the things that went on in our city.”

As of Thursday afternoon, there were no injuries reported.