ROULEAU, Sask. – The cleanup is underway in Rouleau Monday morning after a major fire on the weekend gutted a local business that used to moonlight as “Foo Mart” supermarket on Corner Gas.
“There was smoke coming out the vents, and the turbine on the top, like just everywhere,” said witness Earl Perkin.
The fire broke out at Spalding Orthopedic Design at about 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. No one was inside at the time, and there are no reported injuries.
It took five hours to get the fire under control, according to Rouleau Fire Chief Ed Gilchrist, who adds that the flames “were reaching up there 20-30 feet.”
The Office of the Fire Commissioner will take over the investigation before the structure is torn down, he added.
The store has been open for 14 years.
“We are saddened to hear the news of the fire in Rouleau. We sincerely hope no one was hurt. Our deepest sympathies go out to the community,” said show star Brent Butt in a statement to Global News on Monday.
Gilchrist estimated the damage to cost over $100,000, at least at this point in the investigation.
“Roleau’s a place where everybody knows everybody and I think when you have something this devastating happen to one family, it impacts a lot of people,” said Rouleau resident Britt Leeking.
For many, the focus is on the impact on those who run the store.
“Every little town needs every business that they can generate and, of course, it has a personal effect, too, to the owners,” said Rouleau Mayor Grant Clarke.
Clayton Spalding, the owner, said he’s working with his insurance company to figure out the next steps, which he hopes includes rebuilding the store.
“I am sure the town will rally around them and do what they have to to rectify the problem, or hopefully they can do that,” said Perkin.
Rouleau is approximately 75 km southwest of Regina.
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