The former Windsor Arena is seen after a fire call on July 14, 2022. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.The former Windsor Arena is seen after a fire call on July 14, 2022. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.
Windsor

UPDATE: Firefighters hold off blaze at former Windsor Arena

Windsor fire crews responded to an incident at a downtown landmark.

Firefighters were called after 1:30 p.m. Thursday to the former Windsor Arena at McDougall Street and Wyandotte Street East.

Few details are available, but as of 3:30 p.m., the fire itself was small and crews were still trying to find the source of smoke seen at the location.

There have been no reports of injuries, but firefighters were still seen on the arena's roof at around 4:30 p.m.

https://twitter.com/WindsorFire1/status/1547679918581960704

Windsor police had closed a section of McDougall Street between Wyandotte East and University Avenue East, which includes the City Hall Square area. It reopened shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, around the same time the fire was declared out.

https://twitter.com/WindsorPolice/status/1547689400301039619

There has been no word on a cause or a damage estimate, but a Windsor News Today reporter visited the scene Thursday evening and saw no visible damage to the arena exterior, though there were holes seen in the arena roof.

Windsor Arena had been sitting unused for several years and was most recently used for storage. One of the oldest surviving NHL venues, it was the first home of the Detroit Cougars, later the Red Wings. It was also the longtime home of the Windsor Spitfires, and most recently, the University of Windsor men's and women's hockey teams.

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