Standing next to the rubble of what used to be his family business, Todd Hickey held back tears as spoke about the loss.
“It’s hard to look at,” said Hickey, his voice quivering. “It’s a sad day for the family and sad for the community.”
Hickey and his brother, Craig Hickey, own what was O’Donnell’s fish plant, which was destroyed by fire early Friday morning.
Todd Hickey, who lives in Paradise, said he and his brother drove out as soon as they got the call at 1:45 a.m. When they arrived, he said, one section — closest to the wharf — was gutted, while the other section was engulfed in flames.
“I was just shocked,” said Hickey, who slowly walked around the remains of twisted metal and debris. “I’m really at a loss for words. Our family built this 32 years ago and to see something like this happen ... I can’t describe it.”
Members of the St. Joseph’s Fire Department and Admiral’s Beach Fire Department were at the scene Friday morning to battle the blaze.
Some crew were still at the scene at around noon to put out several hot spots. The rubble was still smouldering, and the smell of smoke could be detected several kilometres away.
Hickey, who didn’t want his photo taken, said he can’t help but feel for the 70 to 80 people who are left out of work as a result of the destruction.
After processing scallop and welk last year, the plant was processing cod this year. Workers were just a few weeks away from finishing for the season.
“We knew all of our workers on a first-name basis. They are all good people,” Hickey said before stopping to gather his composure again.
The loss was felt by many in the area.
Across the street at Butland’s Convenience, customers told The Telegram the plant was the heart of the community and losing it is devastating.
“It’s hard to believe,” said Agnes Hearn, who is from Admiral’s Beach and had worked at the plant for the past 10 years. “We’re surely going to miss it. It put a lot of bread on everyone’s table out this way.
“It was a wonderful place to work. We were like family there, and there are a lot of wonderful memories.”
She said some people managed to get their hours in for the season for employment insurance, while others were just short. Hearn said some people from India and Thailand were also employed at the plant and were devastated by the loss.
“It’s upsetting for a lot of people,” she said.
Hearn said a call came to her house at 2 a.m., which prompted her husband, Walter, the chief of the Admiral’s Beach Fire Department, to hop up and rush to the scene.
“She was up in flames when I got there,” said Walter Hearn, who was outside the store sitting in a vehicle when approached by The Telegram Friday afternoon.
“We had to get the truck out to the wharf, (but) we could barely get through with the flames.”
He said it didn’t take long for the building to burn, as there was a lot of flammable material inside, including chemicals, propane tanks and cardboard boxes.
Hearn said he and many of the crew didn’t leave until 11 a.m.
“Everyone’s pretty tired now,” he said.
“It’s all so sad.”
No one can yet say what caused the fire, but Hearn and other residents said there were reports of lightning in the area at around the same time the fire broke out.
“Hopefully, they can rebuild,” Agnes Hearn said. “It’d be a shame if they didn’t.”
Earlier story:
Hot spots remain at O’Donnell’s fish plant after fire
The twisted and charred pieces of metal that was once O’Donnell’s fish plant lay in rubble today — hours after it was gutted by fire.
A handful of crew members from the St. Joseph’s fire department are at the scene now, putting out hot spots, as they struggle to keep their balance with the strong gusts of wind. The smell of smoke can still be detected kilometres away.
Close to 80 people from the area are out of work as a result of the blaze, which broke out about 1:30 a.m.
Police are still at the scene, as the investigation continues.
The Telegram is in O’Donnell’s and will have further coverage later in the day.
Twitter: TelyRosie
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