Firefighters battle blaze at Fredericton building designated national historic site
Burned building one of four that made up Fredericton's former military complex
A fire at a building with national historic significance in downtown Fredericton prompted a response by more than 20 firefighters on Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters used water hoses to pummel flames as they poked out of the windows and crevices of a green two-storey wooden building at 11 Carleton St. — one of four buildings included as part of the Fredericton Military Compound National Historic Site of Canada.
Crews with the Fredericton Fire Department received a call about the blaze shortly after 3 p.m., said Assistant Deputy Chief David McKinley, in an interview at approximately 5:30 p.m.
He said he believes the fire started in the back of the building, and moved up through the walls, before taking over much of the building's attic.
McKinley said the fire was contained and didn't pose a risk to other buildings, though firefighters were still working to bring the flames under control.
He said while the fire damage is limited mostly to the rear of the building and its attic, the first and second floors will likely suffer water damage from the firefighting efforts.
"It'll be very wet, so I'm not sure what the future of the building will be, but there's definitely heavy, heavy damage here," he said.
McKinley said a firefighter was injured during the response, but was treated on scene.
He said staff from the City of Fredericton, which uses the building for offices, all evacuated the building with no injuries.
City spokesperson Elizabeth Fraser confirmed the building was used as office space for municipal employees, but added it is owned by the federal government.
"The fire at this building is a devastating loss to our city," said Fraser, in an interview.
'Precious part' of Fredericton's heritage
The building was known as the militia arms store, and was constructed in 1832, according to information from Parks Canada.
It was one of four remaining structures from the British establishment of a garrison in Fredericton in 1784, until the withdrawal of Imperial troops in 1869.
The area, located within what is known as the Historic Garrison District, was designated a national historic site in 1960.
Fredericton Heritage Trust president Jeremy Mouat said the militia arms store building was the only wooden structure in the compound, with the rest being built from stone.
He said the building was initially used to store weapons and ammunition, then in 1882 was used as a hospital, and in 1918 became the residence for the caretaker of the Carleton Street Armoury.
He said while there are no significantly unique features of the building, it still holds significance as a relic of Fredericton's military past.
"It's an old precious part of the military heritage of a particular period of the city's existence … that does go back to the 1780s and the 1790s," Mouat said.
"It's a real loss to imagine that ... it has been destroyed."
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With files from Prapti Bamaniya