Fire rips through historic Yorkton building

A fire ripped through a historical Yorkton building overnight.

Flames and thick smoke poured out of Yorkton Manor, an apartment building that was once the city’s hospital, on Tuesday night. Fire crews were called about the fire at 9 p.m. and were still pouring water on the building Wednesday morning.

While RCMP say there have been no injuries reported so far, officers haven’t been able to actually access the building due to flare ups. 

The City of Yorkton says 53 suites were impacted. There are at least 37 displaced people now staying in a local hotel. The Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and Avenue Living – which currently owned the building – have all been on hand to help the people who were living in the building. The Red Cross says it is providing emergency assistance to six families for 72 hours.

The building was originally the Queen Victoria Hospital. The older part of the building was erected in 1902 when an epidemic of typhoid convinced the mayor a local hospital was needed. Running water was installed in 1905, electricity in 1910 and a nurses residence was added in 1929. The land was also the site of the original cemetery, but those graves were later moved to the Yorkton City Cemetery.

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

5h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

21h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

Dec 14, 2024

The investigation to figure out what caused the fire won’t start until the hot spots are completely extinguished.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow