A building that housed a public health office and a cancer research centre in Sackville, N.B. is damaged beyond repair after a fire on Monday.
The fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. and the building was already engulfed by thick smoke and flames when firefighters arrived, according to Sackville Fire Chief Craig Bowser.
Thirty-six firefighters from Sackville and six from Point de Bute took three hours to knock down the fire and spent more time dealing with hot spots.
Bowser said nobody was injured in the fire and no other buildings were damaged. He added that high winds made the fire difficult to extinguish.
He said much of the equipment from the research lab, owned by Soricimed, was removed before the fire spread.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The New Brunswick government said health department staff are working to find alternate locations for mental health and public health services for area residents.
The mental health clinic in the building served about 200 clients.
“Long-term solutions to service clients accessing mental health services provided by clinicians, including psychiatry are being explored,” health department communications director Bruce Macfarlane said in an email to Global News.
Macfarlane said Daybreak support groups and activities for the week have been moved to alternate locations, and a plan will be developed to re-establish the Daybreak Centre.
The building also hosted immunization and toddler assessment clinics. The health department said no clinics were scheduled for Tuesday and officials have begun to contact people who have upcoming appointments to reschedule at different locations.
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