Norman Wells business burns
Cause of fire unknown; up to 10 employees affected
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, March 6, 2017
LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
A fire ripped through a transportation company warehouse in Norman Wells late last week, consuming the facility that employed eight to 10 people, according to Mayor Nathan Watson.
A Manitoulin Transportation warehouse in Norman Wells burned on March 3. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known and no one was believed to be injured. The facility, also known as the Matco building, was in an industrial part of town. - photos courtesy of Catherine Mallon |
The fire broke out around noon on March 3 at Manitoulin Transportation on Junkers Road, across the street from a gas station and less than a kilometre from the community's airport.
No one was injured and it's not believed anyone was inside at the time the fire began, Watson said in an interview as crews continued to work at the scene.
Heavy equipment was used to level the remains of the building to help put out the fire.
The Town of Norman Wells issued a statement expressing its "deepest sympathy and thoughts to all staff at Manitoulin for what has been a very difficult day."
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the fire.
It was a regional hub for winter road cargo and contained items people would be waiting to have delivered.
"It's going to be a pretty big loss for sure," the mayor said.
As the fire burned, he said ammunition could be heard going off inside the building, he said.
The company also had a contract for ramp work with airlines at the nearby airport, he said.
The community's entire volunteer fire department with 10 to 12 members responded and firefighters in the area from other communities offered to help.
The facility, also called the Matco building, was in what Watson called an industrial part of town.
