Historic Pine Falls School engulfed in flames Saturday night

People in Powerview-Pine Falls are mourning the loss of a nearly century-old school that was destroyed by a fire over the weekend.

Pine Falls School, which closed in 2007, caught fire Saturday night.

Resident Claudia Muller said she watched flames about 20 feet tall engulf the building.

"It was just still devastating to see such a beautiful school that I used to … drive by or walk by," said Muller, who moved to the town last year.

The school caught fire at about 9:50 p.m. Saturday, said Les Barclay, mayor of the town, which is about 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg along the Winnipeg River.

Crews from the town's fire department, Lac du Bonnet Fire Department, Sagkeeng Fire Department and Powerview RCMP responded to the blaze. They stayed until about 10 a.m. Sunday, and the building was still smoldering Monday morning, Barclay said.

"A lot of the residents had went to school there since they were very young, and there was a lot of high emotions with it. So very tragic for the community," he said.

The cause of the fire is suspicious, RCMP said in a Monday statement.

WATCH | A historic school in Powerview-Pine Falls catches fire:

Pine Falls School destroyed by fire

1 year ago

Duration 0:42

A historic school in Powerview-Pine Falls caught fire Saturday night. Pine Falls School, which closed in 2007, was built in 1926 and is a Manitoba historic site. Mayor Les Barclay said the older section that was built in 1926 has been destroyed.

The now privately-owned building opened in 1926 and is a Manitoba historic site, according to the Manitoba Historical Society. Barclay said the older section that was built in 1926 was destroyed, but firefighters were able to save a newer section.

When Muller went to see the fire at about 12:30 a.m. after reading about it on the town's Facebook page, she said a lot of the flames were coming from the older part of the building, located on the west side.

"The older side was pretty much gone. Meanwhile, the newer side was still intact, with a little bit of flames coming on the top," she said on Monday.

Muller said it's sad to see residents who went to the school lose something so important to them. She hopes a memorial can be placed where the school once stood.

"It's really devastating to me," she said, adding that she started a Facebook group where residents can share their memories.

Barclay said no one was injured and no residents in nearby homes had to evacuate. Residents with memories at the school will miss it, he added.

"There's lots of emotions and a lot of people with a lot of memories on it," said Barclay.

"It's a big loss to the community. It was a heritage building that everybody's enjoyed seeing it, and it's going to be missed in the community."

RCMP and the Powerview-Pine Falls Fire Department are looking into the cause of the fire, Barclay said. The office of the fire commissioner is also investigating, RCMP said.

RCMP ask anyone with information on the fire to call Powerview RCMP at 204-367-8728. Tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.