St. Mary’s Mayor Steve Ryan characterized the recent events on Tuesday night as a convergence of unfortunate circumstances. He was the initial responder to a fire that obliterated the St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries plant. Even hours later, the emotional impact of the loss was still resonating deeply within him.
Ryan, speaking with CBC News on Wednesday morning, revealed his personal connection to the plant, stating, “My parents dedicated over 30 years to working in the plant. That was how we were raised, relying on the plant for our livelihood.”
The fire was reported around 8:45 p.m. NT on Tuesday evening, drawing emergency crews to the scene. Ryan recounted arriving to witness flames engulfing the structure, realizing within a brief span of about 10 minutes that the building was beyond salvage.
Don Boyles, the chief of the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department, acknowledged the overwhelming challenge, conceding, “The blaze was too massive. Our resources were insufficient to combat such a fire. We were left with no choice but to prioritize the safety of our firefighters.”
Approximately 20 residents had to evacuate their homes and sought refuge at the town hall until the early hours of the morning, as confirmed by Ryan. The fish plant, a significant employer in the area with a workforce exceeding 300 individuals during peak seasons, employed workers from both the local St. Mary’s community and beyond, engaged in redfish processing as recently as the preceding week.
Reflecting on the impact of the plant’s devastation, Ryan lamented the loss of valuable, well-paying jobs that attracted a diverse workforce to the region. He emphasized the profound emotional toll this event has taken on many, particularly highlighting the familial bonds among the workers.
While the plant owners have refrained from public statements following the fire, Ryan disclosed that his conversations with them conveyed a shared sense of devastation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is conducting an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Severe winds, reaching up to 172 km/h along the southern Avalon Peninsula, posed additional challenges. Environment Canada issued a wind warning for the Avalon Peninsula, with gusts of up to 110 km/h anticipated along the coastline.
In light of the coastal flooding warning in effect for the southern Avalon, both Ryan and Boyles expressed gratitude that there were no casualties and that the fire was contained within the plant premises. Ryan’s current focus is on supporting the affected employees as they navigate the upcoming processing season in the spring, with Premier Tony Wakeham offering his commitment to assist.
Sherry Gambin-Walsh, the Member of the House of Assembly for Placentia-St. Mary’s, emphasized the ongoing impact of the fire, expressing hopes for rebuilding efforts and outlining plans to support the affected workers as their employment insurance benefits are due to expire.
The situation was further complicated by a communication blackout resulting from power outages, as highlighted by Ryan and St. Vincent’s Mayor Verna Hayward. The loss of the fish plant profoundly affected the community’s ability to check on one another during the crisis, underscoring the urgent need for improved cellular coverage in the area.
Route 90 through St. Vincent’s Beach was closed due to flooding, prompting advisories from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to avoid the affected area. While most power outages had been rectified by Wednesday afternoon, around 3,000 individuals remained without power earlier in the day.
Glenda Power, the communications director for Newfoundland Power, acknowledged the challenges posed by the persisting high winds, emphasizing the unpredictability of potential further outages. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating fire as they navigate the path to recovery.
