Kerr's Dry Cleaners is the site of a fire investigation, after a blaze was put out Thursday morning. (File photo/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Fire investigation

Kerr’s Dry Cleaners damaged by fire

Dec 16, 2021 | 12:55 PM

One of the longest standing businesses in the Battlefords community was on fire this morning.

Kerr’s Dry Cleaners required emergency crews at the scene on 100^th St. to put out a blaze that Battlefords RCMP noticed around 11:52 p.m. Fire crews were there a few minutes later, looked in through the glass and saw heavy smoke and flames inside.

“They broke one of the door panes to start flowing water inside and then the second crew went around the back and did the same” Deputy Fire Chief Dave Pratt said.

This comes as a devastating blow to the business community, as Kerr’s has operated in the Battlefords since 1946.

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Pratt said the damage to the building itself was minimal, aside from the entrances and a portion of the roof inside Kerr’s. However, by the time the smoke cleared, the contents were gone.

“We had to pull some drywall ceiling to make sure the fire didn’t get up into the void space,” he said. “But any clothing or belongings were a total loss. As for the heavy equipment, washers and dryers, I don’t know whether they could be salvaged or not.”

The fire reportedly appeared to have begun in the front third of the building. Pratt said he can’t say anything conclusively, but they suspect it to be accidental in nature and misuse of temporary wiring.

“There was a group of electrical wiring we found on the floor in the area of origin,” he said. “The best description would be [potential] misuse of extension cords.”

“We took wiring samples and we might contact an electrical company, investigate the electrical box we found. But based on what was there, that’s the most likely cause.”

At this time, the building is closed until otherwise posted and the fire department will continue to investigate.

On a note of caution for residents, Pratt said to avoid using extension cords as permanent wiring.

“If you can plug directly into the wall, ideally that’s the safest way to be.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW