Brudenell trucking company carries on after fire
Last Updated: Monday, February 8, 2010 | 6:44 PM ET
CBC News
A Brudenell truck transport company was back in operation Monday, a day after a fire destroyed its building on the main highway leading into the town of Montague.
The family-owned company, Morley Annear Ltd., set up temporary headquarters in downtown Montague. One truck headed out to Cape Breton on Sunday night, and another truck hit the road Monday.
Scott Annear, company general manager, estimated the lost equipment and vehicles were worth about $250,000. He didn't have an estimate on the worth of the building.
He said there has been a lot of support.
"Everybody's calling. It's been tremendous support from the community and other businesses. It's been non-stop," Annear said Monday.
RCMP and the provincial fire marshal are investigating the cause of the fire that broke out about 3 p.m. Sunday in the garage of the transport truck company.
One man was inside at the time of the fire, but got out safely. When firefighters arrived, the building was in flames and the equipment inside was destroyed, including three transport trucks. Inside the garage, tanks of gasoline, oil and propane exploded.
Truck driver Ewen Cuddy said the loss of the business is sad.
"The boys put a lot into this business here. It employs a lot of people," he said.
Morley Annear, which provides local and long-distance trucking, employs 38 people.
The tenants of a five-unit apartment building next door who were ordered out Sunday were allowed back in Monday for a couple minutes to check their apartments and pick up a few things.
"I was in just to grab some clothes and the whole place just reeks of smoke. My neighbour was in and her window was broke and it's pretty bad,," resident Susan Pauley said.
At its peak, 60 firefighters from four departments battled the blaze as flames shot in the air and thick smoke billowed from the building.
