Medicine Hat Fire Update

WEDNESDAY MORNING THE TOWN OF MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA, was devastated by a fire in the heart of town that destroyed 5 businesses and some of the town’s oldest buildings.

Firegeezer reported HERE on Thursday that it caused $5 million in damage. There are now additional updates on the investigation into the cause. The Vancouver Sun reports:

Fire Chief Garry Mauch said investigators won’t be able to determine what started it until smouldering hot spots are extinguished. At this point, however, it appears it may have started in a restaurant.

“The building is old, and like (other) vintage, turn-of-the-century buildings, there are all sorts of breaches concealed in the building,” such as attics and crawl spaces, Mauch said. “It managed to get down into one of the concealed spaces and (was) able to cross to another building built in 1900.” Both buildings, containing four businesses, were destroyed, and three nearby businesses sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

The blaze also damaged a piece of the city’s history. The historic buildings were a draw for tourists, and the construction and architectural features can’t be duplicated, Mauch said.

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