A country market that has been a staple in Sussex, N.B. for almost 20 years has been damaged by fire.
Firefighters were called to the Cowtown Market on Main Street around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“When we arrived, the back of the building was flames going right up past the roof peak,” says Sussex Fire Chief Harold Lowe.
Lowe says siding on a business next door to the market was melting away from radian heat.
“That was one of the first things we did, was get a shower curtain between the two buildings to protect it from the heat, while we battled the blaze on the other side,” says Lowe.
The market has been in operation since 1995 and sold everything from milk and produce to handmade art.
“That represents a whole lot of work by a couple of younger people who put their heart and soul into it, and now it’s all gone,” says Sussex resident Jack Wedge.
Fire crews say they’re not certain whether the inside of the market is salvageable, but they will know more once the investigation is complete.
“There is some fire damage inside and heavy smoke damage inside,” says Lowe.
The owner of the market says he’s not certain whether it will reopen.
“I really feel sorry for Richard Pearson this morning, as the community feels sorry for him too,” says Kings East MLA Bruce Northrup, who stopped by Wednesday to see the damage and speak with the owner.
“We’re aware it’s under investigation right now, by the fire marshal’s office, and we’ll see what happens from there.”
The fire comes nearly two years after a major blaze destroyed several businesses on a historic stretch of downtown Saint John.
Police are questioning witnesses as they investigate the fire. Lowe says there is no timeline as to when the investigation will wrap up, or when work could possibly begin to get the market back up and running.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar
