Suspicious fire burns smoke house used by volunteer fire department

Arson is suspected to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story training structure used regularly by the Volunteer Fire Department in Baie Verte.

The fire department received the call from a passing motorist at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, while members were attending their 43rd annual firefighters ball at the fire hall. Arriving on the scene only minutes later, they found the facility completely burned and destroyed.

"All we could do was hose down the surrounding trees to protect them from burning," said volunteer fire chief Billy Hewitt. "It was down to a few burning sticks when we got there and that was it."

The smoke house as it was called, was located approximately 1 kilometre north of Baie Verte. Mr. Hewitt says the fire department is very upset over the loss of the facility, which was a valuable asset to their training.

"It was a two-story wooden building with walls simulating bedrooms, and was set up much like a house and had a couch inside," he said. "We used it to practice searching during our training, which we have every Tuesday for about an hour or more. Without it, I don't know what we'll do now."

The structure had cost roughly $30,000 to build and was used for over 15 years. Mr. Hewitt says it will be difficult for the volunteer fire department to replace it. The loss

After the smoke house burned to the ground, snow covered sticks are all that is left, to the structure used for firefighter training. Contributed photo.

Continued on Page A11