A historic Edmonton church, condemned to be torn down within days, was engulfed in flames on Sunday, November 30, 2025, leading to a significant power outage in the city's core.
Fire Erupts in Decommissioned Building
The call to Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services came in at approximately 1 p.m. for a blaze at the former Mustard Seed church, located at 10635 96 Street. The 113-year-old brick structure had been vacant since it permanently closed its doors in October 2024 due to major structural issues that made it unsafe.
The building had been fully prepared for its imminent demolition. Power had been cut off within the last month, and the gas line was disconnected just the week before the fire. The keys had already been handed over to the demolition company, and the building's iconic arched windows were boarded up.
Evidence of Unauthorized Entry and Warming Fires
In the days leading up to the fire, individuals familiar with the property reported signs of unauthorized entry. "We came last week. The front door was open, so they managed to get past the locked door, and they were having fires inside to keep warm," said one observer. They also noted that a neighbouring property had to be secured for the same reason.
A fire service member confirmed that the individuals who had been inside the building were out by the time the first fire truck arrived on the scene. The fire is believed to be linked to these small, open fires used for warmth as temperatures dropped.
Aftermath and Future Vision
The firefighting response was massive, with one firefighter estimating more than a dozen emergency vehicles at the location. The intense blaze was linked to a widespread power outage affecting downtown Edmonton. By 4:30 p.m., the structure was razed, with water from fire hoses gushing from the ruins and rapidly freezing into icicles on the surrounding fence.
A drone was later deployed to survey the extensive damage. The Mustard Seed, a Christian not-for-profit organization, had been operating services at the location since the 1980s. Laura Giesbrecht, senior director of food services at the Mustard Seed, had previously stated that the cost of renovating the aging building was not feasible.
"We plan to rebuild a new space on that site that would better meet the needs of the community in a really purposeful way," Giesbrecht said at the time of the closure. "So that is going to take some time but it certainly is our vision to continue to meet the needs in that downtown core."