CORNER BROOK, N.L. — With a heat warning in effect, and a temperature already above 20 C, a fire at Flynn’s Pub on Broadway in Corner Brook Tuesday morning could have been much worse when firefighters got there and worked to extinguish the blaze, the fire department said.
Craig Harnum, deputy fire chief with the Corner Brook Fire Department, said the weather conditions and the closeness of the buildings on the downtown street were a concern. With the humidity, he said, the fire could have created its own wind.
That could have been serious for a street that has seen its share of major fires in the past.
Harnum said the department received the call at 8:24 a.m. and upon arrival at the scene, less than half a kilometre from the fire station, there was smoke showing out of the east eve of the building.
Once firefighters gained entry, they encountered heavy smoke and the first crew in discovered a fire in the basement of the building.
Just before 10 a.m. the fire had been extinguished and firefighters started the cleanup and continued to check the building for hotspots.
The road was closed at the intersection with Herald Avenue and Caribou Road as the fire vehicles filled the busy downtown one-way street.
Harnum said the scene would be turned over to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for further investigation.
Stelman Flynn, owner of the pub, was on the scene but declined to comment as he was still waiting for information from the fire department.
The building was not occupied at the time of the fire and Harnum said there hadn’t been anyone in there in a few days. Flynn’s has been closed during COVID-19.
Twitter: @WS_DianeCrocker