Authorities are calling a fire that destroyed a small family business in Sussex on the weekend a case of suspected arson.
Just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, emergency crews were called to Arbing Equipment which caught fire and later suffered massive damage to the building’s front offices.
“It took the roof off the offices and then spread into the main part of the building into the second floor,” said Sussex Fire Chief Harold Lowe.
Crews were able to stop the blaze from spreading further throughout the facility, although they required the help of several other departments to solve it quickly.
“The closest hydrant is about a kilometre away so we had to shuttle water,” Lowe said. “Once we got the water shuttle going with all our mutual aid partners then we were able to keep up to it.”
The owner, Pam Arbing-Northrup said seeing her family business, which specializes in the sale of farm and agriculture equipment, sustain such damage was difficult to endure.
“It’s very emotional. We’re a family knit company,” said Arbing-Northrup.
“It’s heartbreaking.”