A well-known business on the main road in Bay Bulls was extensively damaged by fire late Wednesday night.
Witless Bay volunteer fire department assistant fire chief Shane Cole told the Telegram they were originally dispatched to a commercial alarm call at 11:23 p.m. at Paddy’s Convenience and Restaurant but that it had become a confirmed structure fire before they arrived on scene.
When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from the building and fire in the kitchen area of the business. Firefighters extinguished the main fire but by then the flames had spread into the ceiling and roof area. Cole said the building had been renovated several times over the years and that there were many hidden pockets in the ceilings that were hiding hotspots.
Firefighters cut holes in the roof to vent smoke as they searched for any fire that may have spread to other parts of the building which also housed a newly opened pub. There were no hydrants in the area and water had to be tanked in to the scene.
The fire is under investigation.
