Edmonton's Milla Pub building destroyed by fire

A decades-old pub in central Edmonton was destroyed by fire Tuesday night.

As of Wednesday morning, heavy equipment was on site at the Milla Pub, on 101st Street near 106th Avenue, to tear down what remains of the building.

Brittany Lewchuk, a spokesperson for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, said crews were called to the scene around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

Someone called 911 after spotting flames coming from inside the boarded-up building. 

Lewchuk said the building was unoccupied when crews arrived and no injuries were reported.

Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the building. 

The building was gutted by the time the fire was brought under control around 1:30 a.m., Lewchuk said. 

"The whole building will have to be taken down. It's just not salvageable at this point."

Fire crews battle blaze at Edmonton's Milla Pub

3 years ago

Duration 0:51

Fire crews fight a blaze that started late Tuesday night at the long-closed Milla Pub in downtown Edmonton.

Crews remained at the scene Wednesday morning extinguishing hot spots. Around 8:30 a.m., the north wall was brought down as demolition work began.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Investigators were on scene Tuesday night and would return Wednesday, Lewchuk said.

"They will be looking at the whole scene and then they will determine cause and damages."

Traffic is being detoured near the fire scene and drivers are asked to avoid the area.

Closed now for several years, the pub was notorious for its rundown atmosphere and its prominent location in one of Edmonton's most troubled neighbourhoods.

The basement of the Milla Pub building has a special place in local history.

• Inside the Milla: The town halls, the town squares, for all of us'

The building was once Club 70, Edmonton's first official gay bar. Club 70 opened in 1969, in the basement of what was then a Greek restaurant.