RICH LAKE - The Rich Lake Corner Gas Inc. store was destroyed by a fire that occurred on the evening of Aug. 27.
According to Regional Fire Chief John Kokotilo, Lac La Biche County fire services received a call at about 9:30 p.m. When crews arrived, smoke was coming from the building.
The Rich Lake community is located about 51 kilometres from the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
“Fire originated on [the] second floor of two-story structure,” Kokotilo said.
Due to the fire location and integrity of the building, firefighting crews decided to continue with an exterior attack on the blaze, to ensure personnel safety.
The building, Kokotilo said, was a total loss, and fire crews salvaged what they could from the structure.
The “Incident so far has been deemed non-suspicious, but [is] still under investigation,” he said.
All resources that responded to the fire, according to Kokotilo, were from Lac La Biche County Fire Services, with personnel from stations one, three, four and five helping.
A “total of 10 apparatus plus manpower mitigated this fire,” he said.
Some area residents took to social media the day after the fire, saying the store was a great resource to have in the community, and its loss will be felt.
