Disaster averted as firefighters smother downtown blaze
It was just the type of fire that under the right conditions could have set half the city ablaze. That it didn’t was due to quick action by the fire service. But now that the flames have been extinguished the focus has shifted to how the fire started in the first place.
Jacqueline Woods
Thick white and black smoke billowed from Gaylord’s’ warehouse at #19 King Street. Vishnu Sadarangani, the store’s owner says they had just closed the shop and were leaving when they saw the smoke.
Vishnu Sadarangani, Owner, Gaylord
“We had turned off the light, we were speaking on the phone.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And what, you’ll smelt smoke or saw the smoke?”
Vishnu Sadarangani
“When we were coming out we saw the smoke.”
It is not clear who made the call to the National Fire Service but that call was made at 9:08. It didn’t take the firefighters long to reach the scene. The delay was caused when the fire service could not get inside the building. Both entrances to the store and the warehouse were locked.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
“The main thing was trying to get in the building because the building was all locked up. We tried to get in at this end. We had to knock down that cement thing from down there. When we moved that we thought that the locks were outside, but they were actually inside the building. So we had to get our equipment and pry it open and eventually get some water into the building.”
“A lot of water was thrown into the building and the reason for doing that is because there was a lot of intense heat in the building. If the heat was allowed to go beyond a certain temperature, then that would have really caused a big fire so we really had to throw a lot of water in the building.”
The firefighters did a good job at containing the blaze and preventing an inferno in the downtown area. But because of the intense smoke and lack of proper lighting, it took them a while to reach the source of the fire.
Henry Baizar
“We have to go inside the building with breathing apparatus because there are a lot of walls within the place and there is fire behind the walls in the building and a lot of smoke. So you have to go in there with breathing apparatus and that is what we have been trying to do for the past 45 minutes or so.”
The police also had their hands full keeping a keen eye on those who were out for some discount shopping. Sadarangani who stood across the street and watched his store and its contents either burn or drown said he was insured, but he does not believe he has suffered a total loss.
Vishnu Sadarangani
“I don’t think so. I could only see the smoke not the actual fire.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Was the store insured?”
Vishnu Sadarangani
“Yes, it was insured.”
Jacqueline Woods
“For how much?”
Vishnu Sadarangani
“We are insured for half a million.”
Fortunately, the Record Shack, which is located next door, did not suffer any major damage and the musical store remains open for business. Today as the smoke cleared the fire service was once again back at the scene.
Henry Baizar
“Well we have been digging in the rubble and trying to find out exactly what started the fire. We actually found where the fire started, so we are taking some samples to the police lab and what not, the forensics are out there along with the police and ourselves to try and determine what caused the fire. The fire started at the rear section of the storeroom.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And what was to the back of the building?”
Henry Baizar
“It was all clothes, shoes and that’s about it. Clothing and shoes.”
But clothing and shoes do not usually set themselves on fire. Early this morning, the police detained the storeowners and three employees pending the outcome of their investigation. According to Baizar reports they have received suggest the fire may have been deliberately set.
Henry Baizar
“It looks very suspicious. The reason why we are saying this is, we have statements from people who have written signed statements, that while these people–the owners–were locking up the store, while they were just coming out, a neighbour said to them that their store was on fire because they saw smoke coming out. They did nothing, they still lock their store up, came out and went about their business and did not have any care about what was going on and when we came here, from what we are told, the guy that had the key. Even though they saw us prying the place and trying to get in, they did not offer us the keys to get in the building.”
Only the warehouse and its contents were completely destroyed. The main store and its contents received water damage.
Late this afternoon Fire Chief Baizar told News Five that tests are still being carried out to determined if any flammable agents may have been used to start the fire. At news time the 5 people detained by police were due to be released.
