Brandon, burning Fire tears through downtown Brandon By: The Brandon Sun Posted: Last Modified:

Brandonites watched in horror and shock on Saturday as fire tore through several downtown buildings.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/05/2018 (2313 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandonites watched in horror and shock on Saturday as fire tore through several downtown buildings.

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Matt Goerzen / The Brandon Sun The front of the Christie's Office Plus building in Brandon on Saturday afternoon, as seen from Seventh Street.
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Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Heavy smoke drifts over downtown Brandon as firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings.

The fire began at around noon in the Christie’s Office Plus building at Seventh Street and Pacific Avenue.

Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun A Brandon Police Officer tasked with keeping onlookers back, takes a moment to watch flames devour the Christie's Office Plus building on Saturday afternoon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun A Brandon Police Officer tasked with keeping onlookers back, takes a moment to watch flames devour the Christie's Office Plus building on Saturday afternoon. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Within a couple of hours, strong winds had carried embers across the street to the Massey Manor residential building and to the beer vendor and former nightclub on Rosser Avenue, setting both buildings on fire.

Brandon Sun managing editor Matt Goerzen, reporter Michael Lee and others took these images from that devastating afternoon.

Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The front of the Christie's Office Plus building as it burns Saturday afternoon, seen looking north from Seventh Street in Brandon.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The front of the Christie's Office Plus building as it burns Saturday afternoon, seen looking north from Seventh Street in Brandon.
Marston Grindey, for the Brandon Sun A fireball looms over the city of Brandon, the product of an explosion within the remains of the Christie's Office Plus building on Pacific Avenue that burned to the ground on Saturday afternoon. Sharp-eyed Brandon resident Marston Grindey submitted this picture to the Sun.
Marston Grindey, for the Brandon Sun A fireball looms over the city of Brandon, the product of an explosion within the remains of the Christie's Office Plus building on Pacific Avenue that burned to the ground on Saturday afternoon. Sharp-eyed Brandon resident Marston Grindey submitted this picture to the Sun.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Curious onlookers take video of the fire burning at the beer vendor and former night club building on Rosser Avenue, across from The Brandon Sun building, Saturday afternoon.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Curious onlookers take video of the fire burning at the beer vendor and former night club building on Rosser Avenue, across from The Brandon Sun building, Saturday afternoon.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Firefighters work on a strategy to battle three ongoing blazes while flames burn the beer vendor and former night club building on Pacific Avenue across from the Brandon Sun building.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Firefighters work on a strategy to battle three ongoing blazes while flames burn the beer vendor and former night club building on Pacific Avenue across from the Brandon Sun building.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Against the burning backdrop of the Christie's Office Plus building, firefighters work to stop the fire from spreading to other nearby structures.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Against the burning backdrop of the Christie's Office Plus building, firefighters work to stop the fire from spreading to other nearby structures.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Fire engulfs the Christie's Office Plus building on Saturday afternoon in downtown Brandon, as seen west of the structure on Pacific Avenue. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Fire engulfs the Christie's Office Plus building on Saturday afternoon in downtown Brandon, as seen west of the structure on Pacific Avenue. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun A Brandon firefighter is seen against a wall of flame that destroyed the Christie's Office Plus building on Pacific Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun A Brandon firefighter is seen against a wall of flame that destroyed the Christie's Office Plus building on Pacific Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
Two boys watch as firefighters try to put out a fire at a beer vendor on Rosser Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Two boys watch as firefighters try to put out a fire at a beer vendor on Rosser Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A crowd gathers to watch as firefighters put out a fire at the Massey Manor building on Pacific Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A crowd gathers to watch as firefighters put out a fire at the Massey Manor building on Pacific Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Pieces of Massey Manor hang from the building's rooftop as fire crews continue to pour on water. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Pieces of Massey Manor hang from the building's rooftop as fire crews continue to pour on water. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Smoke hovers over the Knights Inn Brandon as firefighters douse it with water to prevent it from burning. The hotel's adjacent beer vendor and former night club building was destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Smoke hovers over the Knights Inn Brandon as firefighters douse it with water to prevent it from burning. The hotel's adjacent beer vendor and former night club building was destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters from CFB Shilo work on a fire at a former night club on Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Firefighters from CFB Shilo work on a fire at a former night club on Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Officials assess the scene at Massey Manor on Saturday. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Officials assess the scene at Massey Manor on Saturday. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A crowd watches as the beer vendor at Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street burns on Saturday. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A crowd watches as the beer vendor at Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street burns on Saturday. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A firefighter works a hose as smoke billows from a fire at a beer vendor on Rosser Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A firefighter works a hose as smoke billows from a fire at a beer vendor on Rosser Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Fire crews pour water on a beer vendor and former night club at the corner of Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Fire crews pour water on a beer vendor and former night club at the corner of Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Flames appear from the rooftop of the beer vendor at Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Flames appear from the rooftop of the beer vendor at Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Firefighters battles a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Firefighters battles a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 The ruins of Christie's Office Plus on Pacific Avenue continue to burn in the early hours of Saturday as firefighters continue to battle blazes in downtown Brandon. The Massive fire that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 The ruins of Christie's Office Plus on Pacific Avenue continue to burn in the early hours of Saturday as firefighters continue to battle blazes in downtown Brandon. The Massive fire that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 The ruins of Christie's Office Plus on Pacific Avenue continue to burn in the early hours of Saturday as firefighters continue to battle blazes in downtown Brandon. The Massive fire that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 The ruins of Christie's Office Plus on Pacific Avenue continue to burn in the early hours of Saturday as firefighters continue to battle blazes in downtown Brandon. The Massive fire that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings including Massey Manor, seen in the left hand side of the photograph. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings including Massey Manor, seen in the left hand side of the photograph. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Heavy smoke drifts over downtown Brandon as firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings.
Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Heavy smoke drifts over downtown Brandon as firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings.
20052018 Heavy smoke drifting over downtown Brandon is reflected in the Assiniboine River as firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
20052018 Heavy smoke drifting over downtown Brandon is reflected in the Assiniboine River as firefighters continue to battle a fire in the Collyer's Sales and Service/Brandon Boxing Club building on the north side of Pacific Avenue at 6th Street in Brandon in the early hours of Saturday. The Massive blaze that started at Christie's Office Plus destroyed or damaged several downtown buildings. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
A fire burns from the rooftop of the Massey Manor building on Pacific Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A fire burns from the rooftop of the Massey Manor building on Pacific Avenue. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The Massey Manor building on Seventh Street required further efforts from Brandon firefighters on Sunday morning, as crews continued to address smoke emanating from the structure.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The Massey Manor building on Seventh Street required further efforts from Brandon firefighters on Sunday morning, as crews continued to address smoke emanating from the structure.
A lone chimney stack is all that remains of the Christie's Office Plus building at Pacific Avenue and Seventh Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
A lone chimney stack is all that remains of the Christie's Office Plus building at Pacific Avenue and Seventh Street. (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The curious made their way to Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street to view the remains of the former Code night club and beer vendor building, just opposite The Brandon Sun building, on Sunday morning.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The curious made their way to Rosser Avenue and Fifth Street to view the remains of the former Code night club and beer vendor building, just opposite The Brandon Sun building, on Sunday morning.
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