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Watch: Demolition on the Winters Hotel has begun

The building stood for more than 110 years before a fire claimed it.
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The demolition of the historic Winters Hotel has begun, following the April 11 fire which essentially destroyed the structure.

The demolition of the Winters Hotel is Gastown has begun.

The outer walls are being brought down in the clip, with water being sprayed to mitigate the dust.

The building, which was over 110 years old, was destroyed by a fire on April 11. Investigators believe unattended candles are to blame for the blaze.

City staff deemed the building unsafe and that it had to be demolished, the sooner the better. Preparations began on April 20 and the demolition of the outer walls began Thursday, April 21.

More than 140 people living in Winters Hotel and a neighbouring SRO are without homes now, as are businesses that were located on the building's ground floor. No one was able to reenter the building after the fire.