The town had gone to bat to ensure the plant had licences and a new owner, but lost its main employer in fishing plant fire Nov. 4Author of the article:By Gary Kean • The TelegramPublished Nov 05, 20258 minute readThe St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries Inc. Plant. in St. Mary’s on Newfoundland’s south coast burns uncontrollably during the night of Tuesday, Nov. 5. The plant, which employed about 350 people, was completely destroyed. RCMPArticle contentMayor Stephen Ryan had just been down near the fish plant in St. Mary’s to check out the surging ocean as the intense weather system that struck Newfoundland’s south coast worsened early Tuesday evening, Nov. 4.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentHe was amazed at how high the water was at around 6 p.m. He tried to get a few photos, but the winds were too treacherous for him to even get out of his vehicle.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAfter checking conditions on some of the roads nearby, he went home to settle in and wait out the storm.Article contentThe reassurances he had did not last long, but the call he got around 9 p.m. wasn’t storm surge-related. His daughter called to say her friend was reporting there was a fire at the fish plant near her home.Article contentRyan immediately got ready to go check it out. When he arrived, he saw a fire at the front of the building around where the plant’s electrical systems were located.Article contentHe notified the local volunteer fire department and got in touch with the plant’s owners. In those early moments, he told The Telegram in an interview on Wednesday, the fire didn’t seem like anything that could not be gotten under control.Article contentHis opinion about that quickly changed in mere minutes as he watched and waited for the emergency response to unfold.Article content“In about 10 or 15 minutes, it was just lighting up the whole building,” said Ryan.Article contentArticle content“I was assuring the owner at first. But then I was telling him, ‘It’s gone.’ He was asking me, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘It’s gone, it’s just gone.’”Article contentArticle contentNo chance to save itArticle contentGone it was.Article contentThe fire department was helpless to save the building, which was completely destroyed by the fire.Article contentRyan figured the strong winds fanned the flames and caused the fire to spread too rapidly for it to be contained.Article contentLuckily, he said, the wind was blowing out towards the ocean and not back towards the town. Near the plant are homes and the town hall, which he said might have also been lost if the wind had been coming from a different direction.Article contentAfter the fire broke out, there was a power outage in the part of the town near the plant. About 25 or 30 residents living in the area were evacuated and sent to the town hall, which had emergency backup power.Article contentRyan said the flames at the plant died down after midnight, and residents began returning to their homes by around 2:30-3 a.m. when electricity was restored and the fire situation had subsided.Article content‘We fought so hard’Article contentThe immediate threat may be over, but there is plenty of uncertainty represented in the pile of ashes and twisted metal where the fish plant once stood.Article contentEarlier on Tuesday, the plant that employs around 350 people had been operating as usual, processing redfish.Article contentNow, those people don’t have a workplace to head to, and the town’s major employer is a huge question mark embedded on the local economy.Article content“It’s devastating, and I take it personally,” said Ryan, referencing the hard work and determination the town put into ensuring the plant’s viability in recent years.Article contentThe town fought to get a licence for the plant and helped get it sold in 2022.Article content“I wouldn’t be able to tell you how many conversations I had with the owners, our MHA, the premier, ex-ministers of fisheries,” said Ryan. “I was really hurting today.Article contentArticle content“That’s why this was so heartbreaking. We fought so hard in the past three years to get where we’re too.”Article contentThe new owners, Daley Seafoods, had invested millions into upgrading the plant, according to Ryan.Article content“We had a really big season down there last year,” he said. “In two hours, it was all gone.”Article contentWhile it was processing redfish on its last day of operation, the plant’s main species for processing is snow crab. Earlier on the day of the fire, Ryan and the town clerk had put the finishing touches on a letter to the new premier and provincial fisheries minister in support of a new lobster and pelagics licence for the plant to make it a fully licensed venture.Article content“They were hoping to do in excess of a million pounds of lobster, and they were hoping to do up to five million pounds of herring,” said Ryan, adding the letter was not sent off since the terrible news of the fire.Article contentArticle content‘This is a must’Article contentRyan said he was on the phone with Premier Tony Wakeham to remind the new premier of his campaign promise to provide more support for volunteer fire departments.Article contentDespite being faced with conditions at the fish plant that not even the most seasoned professional fire department could do much with on Tuesday, Ryan said these are the kinds of situations where it becomes crystal clear how crucial firefighting resources — both equipment and training — are to small town volunteer departments.Article content“There should be no fundraising,” he said.Article content“This is a must. It’s a need and we need them to be supplied … The wind was towards the water, and that was the only saviour we had last night. If the wind had been the other way, we would have lost our town hall and we would have lost some homes because there would have been no way to control it. It was just scary.”Article content‘Gut-wrenched’Article contentThe Telegram asked Daley Seafoods for comment, but there was no reply as of publication.Article contentRyan said it’s not likely the company would be speaking to the media because they rarely do. He did say that the company told him to tell anyone who asked that they are devastated by the loss of the plant in St. Mary’s.Article content“They’re gut-wrenched, they said, if anybody asks,” Ryan said. “They put a lot of time and in excess of $10 million into it and they were just seeing back what they put into it … As bad as I feel, I’m sure they feel ten times worse.”Article contentRyan said the company has been committed to the town, having bought a church for the town, plus some homes.Article content“Hopefully, they see that as a good investment and this is just a little setback,” he said.Article contentThe company has not given Ryan any indication of its plans or whether or not it will rebuild the plant, but he hopes they will.Article contentArticle content“I’m hoping that they will. Definitely,” he said. “The whole town is.”Article contentIt’s not just the 307 residents of the Town of St. Mary’s who would like to see the plant return, added Ryan. So would the entire region, as the plant paid decent wages to the workers it drew on from Portugal Cove South to Conception Bay South.Article content“We had foreign workers too,” noted Ryan. “A lot of the foreign workers, this is their third year returning this past year, and they’re after becoming like family to us. They’re just devastated, too.”Article contentPolice responseArticle contentRCMP Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Fire Commissioner’s Officer are investigating the fire at the St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries Inc. plant.Article contentThe police indicated officers with Holyrood and Ferryland RCMP responded to 911 reports of a structure fire at the fish plant at around 8:50 p.m. and that firefighters with the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department, with mutual aid from at least two other volunteer fire departments in the region, also responded.Article contentArticle contentThe response was supported by Emergency Medical Services personnel, but no injuries have been reported to police.Article contentHolyrood RCMP engaged the provincial Fire Commissioner’s Office and secured the scene with the assistance of additional private security resources.Article contentA fire investigator attended and examined the scene Nov. 5 in an effort to determine the cause of the fire.Article contentAnyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact Holyrood RCMP at 709-229-3892. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.Article contentWhat others are saying on social media:Article contentTony Wakeham, Premier of NL Article content“I’m deeply saddened to hear about the fire at St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries Inc. last night. Article content“When I visited the plant this summer, I met with workers and harvesters who spoke with pride about their work and the role this plant plays in their community. This is a devastating loss for them and for the entire region. Article content“My thoughts are with the workers, their families, the owner and operator, and everyone who depends on this vital industry. Article content“Thank you to the firefighters who faced heavy wind and rain to keep others safe. In times like these, our strength comes from standing together.” Article contentArticle contentTown of St. Mary’s Council Article content“This tragic loss of the St. Mary’s Bay Fish Plant, located in our community, saddens the St. Mary’s Town Council and Staff. During this time, we are thinking of the owners, employees, and their families. All of St. Mary’s, the surrounding areas, and beyond are impacted by this devastation. We are grateful to everyone who provided assistance and the many hours the volunteer fire crews devoted to fighting the blazing fire. Because we are NL STRONG, we will conquer this together.” Article contentArticle contentSherry Gambin-Walsh, Liberal legislature member for Placentia-St. Mary’s Article contentArticle content“I am heart broken today to see this brand new state of the art successful plant destroyed overnight. It was an employer for people from Portugal Cove South to CBS. Processing seafood right up to this week. A major loss to the economy, the owners, the people and the harvesters who seek more processing — not less in NL.” Article contentArticle contentJim Dinn, leader of the New Democratic Party of NL Article content“My heart goes out to the workers and the entire community of St. Mary’s after the devastating loss of the fish plant last night. This is a difficult time for so many, but I have every confidence in the strength, resilience, and compassion that define our communities. Article content“Together, we will stand with our neighbours and support one another as we move forward.” Article contentArticle contentCalvin Manning Article content“Sorry to hear this for St. Mary’s Bay and all the workers especially. Hopefully the plan to rebuild is already underway.” Article contentArticle contentLinda Evans Article content“So devastating to the people of the community, so sorry to hear about this tragedy, my thoughts and prayers are with you all God bless you all🙏🏻” Article contentArticle content
Mayor gutted after fish plant St. Marys fought for lost to fire
