Walmart fire in St. Vital investigated as arson

A fire at a Walmart at St. Vital Centre on Monday evening is being investigated as an arson, Winnipeg police say.

The fire forced the evacuation and closure of the retail store after it broke out just after 7 p.m.

“We are doing everything we can to assist Walmart during this difficult time for their team and our community who is impacted by Walmart’s temporary store closure,” said St. Vital Centre general manager Kevin Waterman. “Ultimately, and what is most important, is that all staff and visitors at Walmart last night were able to evacuate safely.”

Waterman confirmed Walmart is still closed, and encouraged customers to continue watching Walmart and the mall’s social media accounts for updates on the reopening.

“St. Vital Centre is open and operational in accordance with our usual business hours today,” he added.

In a Facebook post, Walmart directed customers who use the in-store pharmacy to visit its location on Lakewood Boulevard in Southdale, where their pharmacy records would be available.

The WFPS said in a news release emergency crews were called to a commercial building on the 1200 block of St. Mary’s Road just after 7 p.m. Monday. Firefighters quickly put out the fire after the building’s sprinkler system mostly extinguished the blaze before crews arrived.

Laura, who was shopping in the grocery aisle at the time, said she heard someone yell, “Fire.”

“I turned around and saw… thick black smoke and large flames,” she said, adding she tried to take a photo but ended up recording a short video instead.

“From what I could see, it appeared the fire was in the bedding aisle. The sprinklers activated and shortly afterward the emergency alarm began sounding while Walmart announced that everyone needed to evacuate the store. In the minute or so it took me to get outside, the black smoke had intensified and was spreading toward the front of the store.”

Laura, who didn’t want to give her last name, said most people were walking calmly toward the front doors when she was exiting the building.

Another witness who spoke to the Free Press on Tuesday also said the fire started in the store’s bedding section.

They said staff did a good job of directing people out of the store as it was being evacuated.

No injuries were reported. A damage estimate was not immediately available and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca