The Home Hardware store itself was not involved in the blaze, contrary to earlier information reported by the RCMP.
Police received a call at approximately 9 p.m. on Sunday to assist the Stewiacke Fire Department with traffic and crowd control at the George Street address.
When arriving on scene, the RCMP found the cabinet shop and a private shed engulfed in flames.
Although initially believed that the fire originated in the Home Hardware cabinet shop, investigation has revealed that the fire actually originated in a residential shed on George Street in Stewiacke and that it spread to the adjacent structure, the Home Hardware Cabinet Shop. Both structures were completely destroyed in the fire; a residential home that is in close proximity to both was saved.
The investigation into the cause of the fire has deemed it not suspicious.
According to RCMP Sgt. Al Affleck, a man living at the home was using a heat gun for furniture stripping inside the shed.
"He had gone into the house and noticed a power surge, which was normal for them at the home," said Affleck from the scene. "When he looked out the window, the shed was fully engulfed. With these high winds, the fire spread to the cabinetry shop."
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STEWIACKE – Crews are battling a blaze at a Home Hardware building in Stewiacke.
The building is located on George Street in the downtown portion of the town.
According to the Colchester County Fire Emergency Calls page on Facebook, 16 fire departments are responding to the blaze, including Stewiacke, Shubenacadie, Indian Brook, Milford, Lantz, Cobequid, Hilden, Brookfield and Upper Stewiacke. Truro Fire Service has sent its ladder truck and also has a pumper on standy in Hilden. Elmsdale has been put on standby, with Halifax Regional Municipality Station 39 on standby in Upper Stewiacke.
Two additional stations from Halifax Regional Municipality - station 35 and 38, have also responded to the scene.
