It was a close call yesterday evening for residents and business houses on Queen Street when the warehouse for Simon Quan store caught fire.
Thanks to efforts by the fire department, the fire was quickly contained. Still the losses for the Quan family business are great.
Today family members and staff reviewed the scene and didn't have to search too hard to find answers - fire chief Henry Baizer told us they've isolated the cause and it was a mere accident.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Fire chief Henry Baizer says that his department has isolated the cause of yesterday's fire at Simon Quan. A group of some seven men were at Simon Quan's warehouse conducting some welding when a spark from the welding procedure landed on some flammable material.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
"They took some precaution to make sure that sparks did not fly away. Normally they put a piece of plywood to sort of block it out. But in this case the plywood did cover all that needed to be covered and so while they were cutting, things flew away and apparently dropped on four mattress. The welder did not notice what was happening until his partner touched him on the shoulder and told him there was a fire. They couldn't get into the area where the fire was simply because it was all grilled up and burglar barred up."
"They said they saw couple firemen coming and running into the building and so they tried to rectify the situation. But they went down the corridor where they fire was and they heard somebody scream so they decided to abandon the fire and started searching for the person who had screamed out. Eventually they went and found both of them in a shutter near New Road but it was closed and locked from outside. Almost immediately someone opened the shutter from outside and one of the young ladies ran out and the next one needed help because she was overcome by smoke."
After clearing the building of persons, the firefighters then concentrated their efforts in extinguishing the blaze that was concentrated in the labyrinthine warehouse. Baizer admits that this was no ordinary fire and his men had to go into the building with gear designed for this type of blaze.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
"You cannot go in there without protection because even things that burn give off gases. The foam mattress give off different gases and its very dangerous so virtually the guys that went into the building had to bring along breathing apparatus. We have to change it often and rotate people in and out until we have the fire under control but its very dangerous life wise."
Even so firemen managed to contain and extinguish the fire shortly after response. Only one person suffered from smoke inhalation and had to be treated for it. As for the contents of the building, today owners and employees alike were mopping up the water and smoke damage. Antonia Quan says the institution that is Simon Quan will continue to serve the public even at this time of disaster.
Antonia Quan, Simon Quan Store
"We are not really open but if customers come in requesting fabric we try to assist them one at a time. We are still open but not the entire store - just front part where fabric are sold."
"At this point we are not sure of the extent of damage and they are still assessing it. We are just cleaning up the things that were burnt and trying to see whatever is salvageable to put aside."
Simon Quan's store will remain open through their outlet store also located on Queen Street.