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UPDATE: No injuries reported in Morinville hotel fire

Investigation in progress

Update
This story was rewritten late Nov. 7 to reflect new information from the Morinville Fire Department.

Morinville is without a hotel this week following a weekend fire that displaced 27 people.

Emergency crews received a 911 call at 8:03 p.m. on Nov. 6 about a fire at the Morinville Plaza and Suites (10219 100 Ave.), Town of Morinville spokesperson Tracy Dalzell-Heise said in an email. Morinville firefighters were on scene by 8:13 p.m.

Morinville deputy fire chiefs Charles Lavallee and Brian Johnston said crews saw flames shooting out of a second-floor window on arrival. Crews entered the building to attack the fire directly, but had to retreat when the fire spread to the attic and roof. Due to the size of the building and cold conditions, they called in backup from Gibbons, Legal, and St. Albert.

“We had 35 firefighters on scene at one point,” said Lavallee, which was almost as many as they had during the St. Jean Baptiste Church fire in 2021.

Lavallee said crews had the fire out by about 3 a.m. Nov. 7. No injuries or deaths were reported.

About 27 people were evacuated from the hotel and taken to the Morinville Legion hall, Dalzell-Heise said. Evacuees were moved to the St. Albert Holiday Inn Express & Suites early on Nov. 7.

In an email, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Sigmund Janke said the fire affected the second floor of the suite portion of the Morinville Plaza, which has several businesses attached. The RCMP did not find any suspicious activity related to the fire.

Lavallee said fire inspectors were still determining the cause of the blaze as of late Nov. 7. He was not sure if the hotel was a complete write-off, but said crews had to collapse the second floor with an excavator to get at the fire, which likely caused extensive damage to the ground floor. Attached businesses may have water and smoke damage, and would likely be closed for several weeks.

In an email, Morinville Mayor Simon Boersma said the Plaza was Morinville’s sole hotel, and offered monthly rentals to its tenants.

“Sad seeing another structure going down just off the main street.”


Kevin Ma

About the Author: Kevin Ma

Kevin Ma joined the St. Albert Gazette in 2006. He writes about Sturgeon County, education, the environment, agriculture, science and aboriginal affairs. He also contributes features, photographs and video.
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