SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Two garbage trucks were seriously damaged and a building was gutted Thursday morning as winter weather hampered the efforts of firefighters to extinguish a blaze on Pope Road.
Summerside Fire Department responded to a call shortly after 4 a.m. The building, known as the old government garage, near Greenwood Drive, is currently the Island Waste Management Corporation’s (IWMC) West Prince collection contractor’s facility.
Island Waste Management Corporation CEO Gerry Moore said it was an unfortunate circumstance. He couldn’t confirm the extent of the damage until the investigation into the cause of the fire is determined.
“We do know there were several trucks in the building at the time. There were also trucks outside of the building. Those are the ones we’re using for today’s East Prince collection.”
The blaze was called in by Summerside Police Services.
“At around 4:10 a.m., (Summerside police officers) on patrol in the Pope Road area noticed smoke coming from the building,” said Sgt. Jason Blacquiere of Summerside Police Services.
The blaze appeared to spread quickly before the fire department arrived.
About 50 to 55 firefighters, nearly the department's entire company, responded.
A number of firefighters were at the site until at least noon to combat hotspots and insure the fire was extinguished, said Summerside Fire Chief Jim Peters.
He said there was nasty weather at the time of the fire, with winds and heavy snow hampering the department’s efforts.
Peters said the steel roof kept the fire in the building and made it hard to get at.
The building’s interior has been destroyed.
“The building’s still standing, but it’s pretty much gutted from one end to the other,” the fire chief said.
There were six garbage trucks in the building. He said two of them have been seriously damaged by smoke and heat.
Capt. Ronnie Enman was still helping at the scene around 8:30 a.m.
"We didn't send too many guys in because it was so smoky,” Enman said. “It's hard to tell what's going on because there's steel outside and inside."
No one was in the building at the time of the blaze.
Weather conditions added to the issues as snow continued to fall and temperature remained below freezing.
"Our water trucks and running water was fine, but our gloves were freezing and same with our bunker gear. It added to a miserable situation," said Enman.
Traffic was impacted in the area until shortly after 8 a.m.
The cause of the fire was not deemed suspicious, but the provincial fire marshal’s office responded to the fire and will have the final say in determining the cause.
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Fire impacts traffic, waste collection services
A Thursday morning fire wreaked havoc with garbage collection plans in West Prince.
According Island Waste Management Corporation, all routes in the West Prince region were cancelled for the day.
The fire destroyed two garbage trucks and the Island Waste Management Corporation’s (IWMC) West Prince collection contractor's facility on Pope Road.
IWMC CEO Gerry Moore was unable to confirm the damage sustained but said the company hopes to get the collection runs going again soon.
“The only collection that has been impacted was [Thursday’s] compost collection for the West Prince. So that includes about Tyne Valley-westward. We do have an alternative collection day set up.”
Collection day has been rescheduled for Feb. 2. Customers are asked to ensure carts are curbside on Saturday by 7 a.m., as drivers may be in the area earlier than on the regular weekday collection.
Moore said it’s important for the public to check the IWMC website for updates and any other possible schedule changes that may have been a result of the fire.
“Please be patient with us. We’re making alternative arrangements for those affected.”
