A fire early Sunday morning at Clancy's restaurant in Lac la Hache has destroyed yet another South Cariboo landmark.
Lac la Hache Volunteer Fire Department deputy chief Roger Hollander says an early warning triggered by smoke detectors allowed the sole tenant to exit the building safely, but the main building housing the restaurant, gift shop and an upstairs suite was levelled by the fire.
Angela Dolan owns Clancy's along with her husband, James, and she says they found out when they arrived to open for the day.
"It was a devastation; we lost everything. It was a shock yesterday when we went to work and there it was, fully engulfed."
Hollander says the call came in at 3:56 a.m. April 17 and 11 members and all four trucks were dispatched to the scene, where they found heavy smoke and flames inside the structure.
The fire also burned through a significant TELUS cable, immediately cutting off phone service to about 3,300 customers in 100 Mile House, 93 Mile House, Williams Lake and surrounding areas until being fully restored by 6 p.m. Sunday night.
Mutual aid calls had 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue and both the 108 Mile Ranch and Greeny Lake volunteer fire departments, for a total of 35 firefighters and 11 fire trucks, battling the blaze.
Hollander explains the fire was difficult to control due to its location at the rear of the building and away from windows. Winds steadily picked up and spread the flames, he adds.
Crews successfully kept the outbuildings protected, and he notes they kept up a diligent effort for almost 12 hours before the fire was fully extinguished and cleaned up by around 3:30 p.m.
Shaw also experienced interruption in television and Internet service as far north as Prince George.
Angela Dolan explains they plan to rebuild Clancy's and will open up again as soon as possible.
"I'd like to thank the community for all their support and patronage, and the firefighters especially for giving it their best."
