PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – A three-alarm fire over the weekend at a Port Coquitlam strip mall has completely destroyed at least five small businesses and it’s still unknown what sparked the blaze. Investigators had hoped to figure that out by now, but the building wasn’t safe enough yesterday for fire crews to pinpoint the cause.
Fire is out but heavy damage to businesses in downtown #Poco this AM @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/7haXMUO0Sr
— Simon Druker (@Simon_Druker) October 10, 2016
Port Coquitlam Fire Chief Nick Delmonico says it is hard on the whole city when you see so many businesses shut down because of a fire. “When this kind of stuff happens to people who are starting up small businesses which really runs our city, so it’s difficult for everybody involved.”
He says this fire was particularly challenging for crews. “Once it got into the roof it was extremely difficult as it runs by itself in the roof and to cut it open and chase it is extremely difficult and it’s also very dangerous to have people on the roof when a fire is in the roof.”
Water damage also an issue, flooding over the sidewalk pic.twitter.com/QY4mTeSwFi
— Simon Druker (@Simon_Druker) October 10, 2016
Firefighters arrived to Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue just after 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving Monday and it took several hours to get it under control.
Crews checking gutted buildings, smoke still periodically puffing from the roof as they ventilate #Poco @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/E3BTrhLqYM
— Simon Druker (@Simon_Druker) October 10, 2016
It is still unclear whether the businesses that impacted have insurance. “I’m not sure if they all need to be demolished… that would be an engineer’s determination,” explains Delmonico.