Three snowplows destroyed by fire ahead of storm

CTV Atlantic: Fire destroys snowplows before storm Three snowplows were destroyed Tuesday afternoon as flames raced through a Department of Transportation garage in Antigonish.

Three snowplows have been destroyed by fire at the Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal plow shed on Highway 104 in Antigonish, N.S.

The fire started around noon Tuesday. No one was injured but the nine-bay shed was destroyed.

The building was used for repair and maintenance of snowplows and vehicles.

“A number of vehicles were lost and we have a snowstorm coming tonight so we’re hoping that they’re going to be replaced,” said Antigonish Fire Chief Brendon MacInnis.

“We don’t want to have our highways clogged without having resources to clear them.”

According to a release from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, backup plows from around the province will be sent to Antigonish to replace the three plows lost in the fire.

"We're glad no one was hurt but we did lose some important equipment," said district director Gerard Jessome in the release.

"With bad weather coming our way, this is not ideal, but other districts around the province have very quickly stepped up to provide some equipment.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.