An early morning fire tore through Port Coquitlam’s downtown core Thursday, leaving four businesses in ruins.
All available firefighters were dispatched to the blaze, which started in a barbershop on Shaughnessy Street around 7 a.m. and quickly spread.
“It migrated from there through the ceiling into the other four businesses,” Fire Chief Nick Delmonico said.
The barbershop, a consignment store, Little Eye Shop Optometry and Urban Man Cave were destroyed, but a fifth – The Giggle Dam dinner theatre venue – may have been spared thanks to the efforts of fire crews who spent hours battling the blaze.
“What can you do? Nothing,” Little Eye Shop owner Joel Rothman said. “I guess just get back at it.”
Fortunately, it doesn’t appear anyone was injured in the fire.
Still, Giggle Dam owner Sheila Sharma said the loss of her neighbouring businesses will be a major blow for the community.
“These are small businesses here and they’ve been a staple of Port Coquitlam for a long time, so I’m totally devastated for them,” Sharma said.
By noon, firefighters were still at work putting out hot spots in the area.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Nafeesa Karim
