Fire destroys Sand Dollar Café in Scott’s Bay

By Kirk Starratt

THE ADVERTISER

NovaNewsNow.com

An early morning blaze destroyed a Scott’s Bay landmark Tuesday. Canning Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Deputy Chief Jeff Skaling said firefighters received a page regarding a structure fire at the Sand Dollar Café at 4:57 a.m. Tuesday morning, Sept. 11. Trucks and firefighters from Station 2 in Scott’s Bay were the first to arrive on the scene.

“The structure was pretty much fully involved,” Skaling said. Fire had already burned through the roof on the north side of the building. Equipment and firefighters from Station 1 in Canning arrived moments thereafter and mutual aid was called in from Port Williams, Hall’s Harbour, Wolfville, New Minas and Kentville. Skaling said the mutual aid was primarily for tankers to provide water to the scene.

The fire was put out within an hour and 15 minutes, but Skaling said the building was destroyed. However, there was insurance on the café.

The cause of the fire was still unknown as of Tuesday afternoon, but was being investigated by the fire department and the provincial Fire Marshal’s Office.

Skaling said they had to fight the fire from outside considering that the roof of the structure had already been compromised by the time firefighters arrived and there were no injuries involved. Firefighters concentrated efforts on protecting other nearby property.

Skaling said they immediately shut off the propane from a large tank located about 20 feet from the building and made sure the tank was secure.