It stood as one of the oldest buildings in the city, but tonight the Traveller's Building at #3 Regent Street is just a charred shell after an early morning fire.
Authorities were called out at around 12:30 this morning to Regent Street West where they found the building in flames. Deputy Fire Chief Ted Smith explains that tonight we are fortunate to report that only one building burnt because this fire could have been a real block burner, owing to the fact that it was surrounded by wooden structures.
Ted Smith, Deputy Fire Chief
"There were buildings that were nearby, east of it, and there were buildings south of it just across the street. These buildings, as far as I am concerned, are very old and I've been seeing them there for years. Yes the Department was extremely concerned in containing this fire within this structure and did everything it possibly could to contain this fire from breaking through. We brought out everything we had to contain that fire within that structure. If the Department was not successful in containing that fire within that structure, it could have been a great confliguration within that neighborhood. That was very much our concern, not to have that occur so the Fire Department fought vigorously and contained that fire."
Alfonso Noble,
Can you tell us if there was anybody inside the building at the time of the fire?
Ted Smith,
"As far as we are concerned, the information we have, we are not aware if anybody was inside the building at this time. However the investigative team is out there and they may come up with other information that I am not privileged to at this time."
Travellers Liquors which owns the building says it was insured for a stated value of $200,000. While Travellers' took over the building back in 1977 from where it conducted its entire distribution network up until a few years ago, we are informed that it was once a chicle warehouse as well as a fisheries market back in the 1800's. Most recently it was occupied by Travellers Liquors, the BPFL Headquarters and two bars. The fire is believed to have started in one of those bars, namely "Aqui me quedo."
