Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Jan 28/02) - At least $500,000 and a Northern institution went up in flames last week, forcing motorists to find another pit stop.

An attempt to melt frozen pipes with a torch caused a blaze which destroyed the Big River Service Centre. It's re-opened, but just for gas.

Gas sales resumed Friday at the Big River Service Station near Fort Providence. Last Monday's fire destroyed the store, a restaurant and an office. - photo courtesy of Les Phillipp

For nearly 50 years the centre was the last place on the Mackenzie Highway to get gas on the way to Yellowknife.

"There was such an excellent response from the whole community," said co-owner Don Plante.

He and assistant fire marshal Kellie Mitchell heaped praise on members of Fort Providence's fire department who fought the blaze for 12 hours in -42 C temperatures. After that, a forestry crew helped the exhausted volunteers.

The fire brigade had bounced back just a few months ago, after disintegrating from lack of interest.

Its members saved an older building attached to the complex, which will allow Big River to stay in business.

Plante bought Big River 14 years ago.

Four years ago they expanded -- enlarging the gas bar with a full-sized restaurant and convenience store. A small adjacent Atco trailer motel was untouched by the fire.

The centre will be rebuilt.

"We're checking on that right away. It'll probably be a few months," Plante said.

The building is insured, but Plante doesn't yet know if it covers the whole loss.

The store, restaurant and an office were destroyed.

The fire began in a crawlspace last Monday, at 5:15 a.m. Early-morning staffers couldn't extinguish it, Plante said. Big River had to stop selling gas after the fire. While fuel pumps and storage tanks were unaffected, the monitoring system at the sales counter was burnt.

Gas sales resumed Friday, when an Edmonton supplier arrived with a new system.

A new sales counter was set up in the adjacent building which used to be the main part of the centre.

Big River employs people 13 full-time. Plante says he may be forced to lay off a few people.

The centre was built nearly 50 years ago by Alec Arychuk. Plante bought it from a second owner, who had it for 11 years.