Fire causes extensive damage to Heritage City business
By Nelson Daily Staff
A Heritage City business is picking up the pieces after fire caused between $40,000 to $60,000 in damage Tuesday afternoon in the Uphill Nelson Fire Rescue said in a media release.
Nelson Fire Rescue received the call at approximately 4:12 p.m. of smoke coming from the roof of the Kootenay Warehousing Ltd./Brewery Building located at 514 Latimer Street, a short distance from the station.
The on-duty members responded immediately from the fire station followed by additional Career and Auxiliary members responding from home.
“The first arriving crew arrived with smoke emanating from the roof and doorways,” the release said. “(Firefighters) donned breathing apparatus and made entry into the structure and were able to extinguish the fire.”
Nelson Fire Rescue said the delayed action sprinkler system had managed to keep much of the fire under control until fire crews arrived, but the fire had extended above the sprinkler system into the rafters above the ceiling.
Nelson Fire Rescue said crews removed the ceiling dry wall and insulation to stop the fire from extending into the rest of the building.
“The large building does not have an operating fire alarm system resulting in many occupants remaining in the building unaware of the fire,” the release said. “While crews were extinguishing the fire, other firefighters were conducting evacuation operations and preventing others from entering.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries as a result of the fire or the evacuation.”
Nelson Fire Rescue said 21 firefighters responded to the incident with two fire engines and two utility vehicles.
The cause of the Fire is still under investigation.
Nelson Fire Rescue would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to ensure smoke alarms in their homes and fire alarm systems in their businesses are working properly.
