Investigators probe cause of fire at Hanwell Road plaza

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Investigators are still looking into the cause of a fire that caused significant damage in a strip plaza on Hanwell Road early Tuesday.

The mall at 1232 Hanwell Rd. contains a handful stores and offices. Fredericton fire assistant deputy chief David McKinley said some have some roof damage, others very little damage at all save for some smoke, and others saw more serious water damage.

The fire department was called out just before 3 a.m. and it took a crew of 24 firefighters and seven apparatus, and support vehicles to bring the fire under control by 6:45 a.m., McKinley said.

Fire investigators remained on scene.

Several businesses were forced to close up shop due to the fire.

Changing Hands Thrift Shop posted photos on the store’s Facebook page showing fallen ceilings and insulation and other damage.

Next door, Andrea Rennick, owner of the Quilting Shed, said she considers herself lucky, as her shop only sustained some smoke damage.

The store will still need be closed temporarily, however.

“I’m glad the loss isn’t like total and complete. It looks like something that we can recover from. Just, it’s just going to take a bit of time,” said Rennick. “It’s a setback and obviously devastating for the shop next door.”

That morning, Rennick woke up to messages from friends saying they’re sorry for what happened before she even knew about the fire herself. She said she learned the details via social media, and from messages from her landlady.

Rennick said her business is relatively new, starting out of her own house before eventually opening up a storefront in this building last year.

“It was just last year that we were able to rent a real and full retail space in that building and we were really, really excited,” she said. “It looks like something that we can recover from. It’s just going to take a bit of time.”