Fire destroyed a longtime concrete and landscaping business in Campbellford early Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were called around 12:20 a.m. for a blaze at Nicholson Bros Concrete and Construction at the Tanner Industrial Park, located about 55 kilometres south east of Peterborough. The business runs along side Highway 30 entering the village.
Trent Hills volunteer firefighters arrived on scene to find the main three-bay garage building engulfed in flames.
Fire chief Tim Blake says firefighters tried to enter the building to extinguish the flames but the fire had spread into the attic. The department had 40 firefighters on scene.
“We had to pull crews out,” Blake tells Global Peterborough. “The ceiling collapsed. It was all very quick.”
Additional firefighters from Brighton provided two pumpers and 10 firefighters to help battle the blaze in frigid temperatures.
“We had problems with our hoses and regulators all freezing up,” said Blake. “Keeping all that in service was a challenge in itself, let alone fighting this fire. But they did a great job in adverse, dangerous conditions.”
No injuries have been reported.
The more than 25-year-old company is owned and operated by brothers Russ and Ken Nicholson and employs more than 30 people. The business specializes in construction services including concrete installation, aggregate products, excavation and pond design and installation. A Rent All company is also on the site and reports are it too was destroyed.
Ken tells Global News Peterborough a neighbour spotted flames just after midnight and called him.
He says he believes the blaze started in a back shed which contained construction equipment.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and the OPP have been contacted to investigate the blaze.
Firefighters remained on scene Wednesday morning dousing hot spots
A damage estimate has yet to be determined.
“It’s devastating for the family – any fire is,” said Blake. “They woke up to this, (just) like we were. We can all say we can replace this stuff but it’s devastating but the community comes together with this kind of stuff.”
WATCH: Passersby capture a few moments of the blaze.
More to come.