A massive fire engulfed Hangar 11, Edmonton‘s Second World War-era historic building, located on the former municipal airport grounds at the intersection of 109th Street and 117th Avenue. The fire that broke out on Monday night led to the complete destruction of the building, once a critical channel for aircraft during WWII. The blaze, requiring 11 fire crews, resulted in heavy smoke and flames visible throughout the night.
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Ryan Lee, the curator at Alberta Aviation Museum, witnessed the harrowing collapse of a significant part of the hangar as the fire consumed the structure. The wooden building, originally constructed in 1942 through a partnership with the U.S. military, was one of the last of its kind in the region, and its loss is mourned by many. The tragic incident prompted a temporary closure of NAIT‘s main campus due to poor air quality, impacting staff and students.
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Jordon Ashley, a local resident, expressed his sorrow over the destruction of the historic hangar, highlighting its significance and lamenting that he missed the opportunity to visit it himself. Despite plans for repurposing, including its designation as a Municipal Heritage Resource, Hangar 11 succumbed to the intense fire, leaving a void in Edmonton’s historical landscape.
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Described as one of Edmonton’s most promising development projects, the aviation landmark was listed among the country’s 10 most endangered buildings by the National Trust for Canada in 2017. The fire also disrupted transit services to the NAIT-Blatchford Market LRT station but has since resumed normal operations.
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As investigations into the fire’s cause continue, the loss of Hangar 11 stands as a stark reminder of the poignant history tied to Edmonton’s former airport grounds and the significance of preserving such architectural treasures.
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