Investigation into St. Jacobs market fire concludes with no cause determined

CTV Kitchener: Vendors back at market As businesses continue to return, officials say the cause of the St. Jacobs Market fire may never be known. Krista Simpson reports.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has wrapped up its investigation into last September’s fire at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market, but says it wasn’t able to determine what caused the fire.

Officials with the OFM tell CTV News the cause of the fire has officially been classified as undetermined.

As the OFM report is not public information, further details are not being released.

Flames broke out at the market’s main building in the early-morning hours of Labour Day.

The entire building was destroyed, displacing 60 vendors.

At the time, investigators said they were focused on the southeast corner of the building, which contained a number of food vendors including Conestoga Fries and the Stone Crock Bakery.

Many companies have since returned to the building – either in outdoor space during warmer weather or in a newly-constructed temporary replacement facility.

Thursday marked the first day since the fire that a number of vendors, including The Fritter Company, Pizza Junction, Mr. Donair and Country Cravings, were operating at the market.

Sheila Shantz, director of market operations for the market-owning Mercedes Corporation, says construction on a permanent new main building could begin by spring.