(Facebook photo/ CJNB/CJNS)

By Keaton Brown

fire's fifth anniversary

Fifth anniversary of fire that reshaped downtown North Battleford

Jul 23, 2020 | 1:26 PM

It was five years ago today that a fire erupted at the corner of 101 Street and 12th Avenue and reshaped downtown North Battleford.

The fire was reported to have started at the Bargain Shop that was located next to the old Fabricland location.

The fire was reported to the authorities at 4:30 a.m. on July 23, 2015 which also happened to be a Thursday.

Grant Schutte, CJNB/CJNS morning show host, said that the fire was visible from the bridge on his way into work that morning.

“It was amazing coming in from Battleford, you could see the flames and the smoke even before you hit the bridge. It was quite the scene and quite the fire,” he said.

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Bargain shop burning in North Battleford (supplied photo/Grant Schutte)

The Bargain shop ended up being overrun by the fire and was completely destroyed. The Fabricland building next door was able to be saved by firefighters but ultimately ended up destroying most of the inventory.

Schutte recalled having to navigate his way through a bunch of cop cars and firetrucks to get a closer look at the fire..

“It was all hands on deck. The flames, from the pictures I took, I mean they were way over the top of the building,” he said.

Bargain shop burning in North Battleford (supplied photo/Grant Schutte)

Schutte said the North Battleford Fire Department did a great job of containing the raging fire and limiting the damage it did to the city’s downtown area.

“It was fully engaged. I think some businesses are pretty lucky that they are still around,” he said.

The spot where the old Bargain Shop once stood (supplied photo/Josh Ryan)

Five years later, the location of the old Bargain Shop is now a vacant lot with no traces of the fire that tore through there.

—

Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow