Fire that destroyed WWII hangar at former Edmonton airport being investigated as suspicious
Posted April 23, 2024 10:01 am.
Last Updated April 23, 2024 7:12 pm.
The fire that destroyed a historic Edmonton aircraft hangar built during World War II is being investigated as suspicious, police tell CityNews.
The Edmonton Police Service could not provide more details Tuesday afternoon as it is “early in the investigation,” a spokesperson said.
By 6 a.m., two fire crews were working to put out the still out-of-control blaze that engulfed Hangar 11 at the former Blatchford Field airport (later known as the Edmonton Municipal Airport), Edmonton Fire Rescue Services told CityNews via email.
That was down from the 11 crews dispatched to the scene Monday at 7 p.m. to deal with the heavy smoke and flames, and the wooden hangar’s eventual collapse. Smoke could be seen throughout the city.
The poor air quality forced nearby college NAIT to move classes online Tuesday, asking students and non-essential staff to work remotely and keep away from the main campus “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Alternate arrangements will be made to allow students to complete exams. NAIT programs will be communicating directly with students,” NAIT said in a statement.
The technical school said it would conduct indoor air quality assessments at the main campus buildings once the smoke dissipated from the area.
“The health and safety of the NAIT community is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as air quality improves.”
With Hangar 11 in flames, a second-alarm fire was declared by 7:30 p.m. LRT service at the NAIT/Blatchford Market station was suspended shortly after; service resumed later Monday night.
No injuries were reported and the fire remains under investigation.
Hangar 11 was built in 1942 in partnership with the U.S. Army Air Force. It functioned to move American bombers, fighters and transport planes through to Alaska and the Soviet Union.
It was one of the last remaining structures of that kind in western Canada and “one of the most significant historic structures in Edmonton,” according to the city.
It was considered a cultural landmark and endangered structure by the National Trust for Canada.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi called the hangar’s destruction a “great loss for Edmonton’s history and heritage.”
“As a designated Municipal Heritage Resource, Hangar 11 is a remarkable reminder of Edmonton’s role supporting the military supply chain in the Second World War,” Sohi wrote on X.
“With the loss of Hanger 11, we have lost an important piece of Canada’s aviation history.”
Also in a tweet, Coun. Aaron Paquette said it was “heartbreaking” to watch Hangar 11 burn.
“It was the last of its kind in Western Canada,” Paquette wrote on X. “It was key in the war effort in the 1940s & had been designated a historical resource. It was to be repurposed as a mixed use retail, commercial, restaurant/patio, event & residential space.”
According to the Government of Alberta, the hangar was destined to be repurposed as “student housing, with food, retail, and art space.”
