Nackawic fire department moves to temporary building

NACKAWIC, N.B. – Two days after a truck drove into Nackawic’s town hall, setting it on fire, volunteers are salvaging what they can and moving it to a temporary office.

The volunteer fire department lost thousands in equipment as their side of the building went up in flames early Monday morning.

“It’s hard to put in words when you respond to a call and you realize it’s your own hall, and all the stuff you use to fight fires is in behind those doors where the fire is,” said Chief William Hopkins.

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Witnesses say a man drove his truck into the hall, sparking a fire. Edwin Samuel Bradley was arrested and has been charged with several offences.

The 56-year-old man was charged with impaired driving, refusing to provide a breath sample, and breaching the conditions of an prior court order.

He’ll appear in Woodstock Provincial Court on Thursday.

In the meantime, the town is moving what they can to an unused Department of Natural Resources building.

The fire department consists of just 20 volunteers, and responds to about 100 calls a year. Most of the equipment was fundraised. Now, three of the department’s tankers are too damaged to drive.

“Obviously, when you have no trucks you can’t respond,” Hopkins said.

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The support has rolled in. Hoses and helmets have been donated from the Upper Kingsclear fire department, and trucks have come from Oromocto, Millville and Harvey.

The Fredericton fire department also donated a truck.

“It’s human nature to want to help, and that’s why we’re firefighters,” said Dave McKinley, Fredericton’s assistant deputy fire chief. “They want to help each other, and help the public. So they’ll come out and do it when the time comes, when the need arises.”

The investigation into the fire continues.