RCMP in Holyrood have advised the public that the road in to St. Joseph's, St. Mary's Bay has reopened after it was shut Monday night, Oct. 31, due to a fire at the Atlantic Cold Seafoods plant located in that town.
The RCMP and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are still investigating the fire.
RCMP Holyrood detachment members responded to the Monday night fire, where firefighters were already on the scene.
There were no injuries reported.
The plant was not operating, but renovations are under way.
Only one of the two buildings were destroyed by fire, but it was the one used for processing.
Witnesses reported the fire seemed to have originated in the centre of the processing building, according to the RCMP.
The scene will be examined when it cools down.
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Firefighters were still putting out hot spots this morning at the fish plant in St. Joseph’s in St. Mary’s Bay, Mayor Anthony Healey said.
One of two buildings at the fish plant was destroyed after a fire that erupted 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The town’s volunteer fire department and firefighters from surrounding communities fought the blaze and it was under control in a few hours, Healey said.
Residents were put on alert that if the wind changed they should head out of town due to heavy smoke.
“We are fortunate for sure no homes were involved or no injuries,” Healey said.
The structure was wooden.
“It was an inferno, a lot of flammable material and fuel,” Healey said.
The plant employs roughly 100 people, many from other communities. It has been in the community since the 1970s and processes shrimp in the summer. Daley’s Cold North Seafood’s company officials could not be reached for comment.
“The people who depend on it for work are concerned. It’s going to be difficult to replace 100 jobs,” Healey said.
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