Quick response by the 91原创 fire department limited damage from an early morning blaze that scorched the entrance and cracked the window glass of the Dollars and Cents at 2021 Willowbrook Drive early Friday morning, Nov. 19.
A witness who called 911 and posted a video saw five fire department vehicles and two police units as well as a security guard at the scene.
Owner Salim Dhanani said it would have been worse if it wasn鈥檛 for the COVID-19 barriers installed at the store tills.
He said the fire started in a mixed garbage and recycling container out front and the heat from the flames caused the windows to blow out and the fire was beginning to creep inside by the time fire crews arrived.
They used their hoses to quickly extinguish the blaze, and while some water did get inside, the transparent coronavirus barriers turned out be good at blocking water as well, limiting the damage to a few tills and some inventory.
鈥淲e were lucky that we had COVID barriers,鈥� Dhanani told the 91原创 Advance Times.
There was also some smoke damage.
Dhanani called the incident 鈥渟hocking鈥� and expressed his gratitude to the fire department for their quick response.
鈥淲e were very fortunate,鈥� he commented.
A posting to the store鈥檚 Facebook page delivered 鈥渁 huge thank you to the 91原创 Fire Department! You showed up early this morning at 1:20am, and saved us from something that could have been catastrophic.鈥�
鈥淲e salute you, and we appreciate you!鈥�
The store was able to reopen the same day, 鈥渄ue to (many) extremely hardworking individuals.
Thank you to our customers as well, for your patience and support at this time.鈥�
An RCMP report said a witness reported seeing 鈥渉omeless-looking people鈥� leaving the scene about the time smoke was first spotted.
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