A massive fire has destroyed the former St. Catharines Standard building on Queen Street .

St. Catharines Fire Chief Dave Upper said the blaze originated in the office portion of the upper floors late Friday night, and the structural integrity of the building is “completely jeopardized.”

Upper said the preliminary damage estimate likely exceeds $2 million. The fire was extinguished at about 5 p.m. Saturday.

Due to the severe structural damage and unsafe conditions, it was decided in consultation with the Office of the Fire Marshal that there will not be an investigation and the cause of the fire will be classified as undetermined.

“There is quite a bit of structural damage,” Upper said. “Our concern is that the front of the building will collapse due to the damage from the fire and t

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