ANTIGONISH – Snow plows are out in full force beating back the snow in Antigonish, but it’s a scene that almost didn’t happen after fire destroyed precious snow plowing equipment on the eve of a massive storm.
Just after 12 p.m. on Tuesday, a fire broke out in the upper part of a plow shed belonging to the province’s transportation department in Antigonish.
Glenn Horne, a local county clerk, said the county contracts out snow plowing to the department.
READ MORE: Investigation: fire that destroyed Antigonish snow plows accidental
Paul Colton, the department’s area director, said two salt trucks and one plow were destroyed in the blaze. One truck was brand new and had only been used a month.
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It could have spelled disaster for the county, but Colton said other areas from across the province lent them a helping hand.
“We put out a call to the rest of the province and we did get a response,” he said. “Within an hour, we had salt trucks on the way to help with the impending storm.”
New snow gear arrived in the county Tuesday afternoon, before any snow had fallen.
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The area got three salt trucks and two plows, more equipment than it lost in the fire, on a day when up to 30 centimetres of snow was expected.
“We’re thankful other areas of the province chipped in and stepped up. We were able to respond to the storm in a normal way,” Colton said.
The borrowed equipment will remain in the area for the remainder of the winter. Colton said it’s undecided what will happen after that. He said crews are focusing on the current blizzard and not looking at the long-term picture right now.
RCMP Sgt. Brian Rehill said he spoke with fire marshals late Tuesday night who told him the fire is not suspicious.
“They were confident the fire was accidental, electrical in nature,” he said.
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