A devastating fire razed the fish plant in St. Mary’s, Newfoundland amid the onslaught of hurricane-strength winds and heavy rainfall. Mayor Steve Ryan revealed that he received reports of the fire earlier in the evening, and upon arrival at the plant owned by St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries, he witnessed significant damage already incurred.
Despite the presence of three fire crews at the scene, they encountered fierce hurricane winds due to a weather bomb sweeping through the region, causing the structure to be engulfed in flames before they could effectively intervene. Meteorologist Rodney Barney noted that winds reaching speeds of up to 172 km/h were recorded at Cape St. Mary’s.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss, Liberal MHA for Placentia-St. Mary’s, Sherry Gambin-Walsh, conveyed the profound impact on the community. She lamented the sight of individuals helplessly witnessing their primary source of livelihood succumb to the inferno, emphasizing the immense significance of the employer in supporting the local community.
The incident has left residents and authorities reeling from the profound devastation, with the community grappling to comprehend the magnitude of the loss.