Paris metalworking business destroyed by fire

CTV Kitchener: Picking up the pieces The owner of a Paris business was inside his shop when he first saw the flames that would destroy the building. Krista Simpson has more.

A building that stood in Paris for approximately 150 years is no more.

Fire broke out Thursday afternoon at 11 Market Street, which currently houses Van Gregor Metal and Power Coating.

When fire crews left at the end of the night, all that remained was a pile of rubble.

“It’s been a little bit of a crazy day, dealing with the insurance and all the inspectors,” business and building owner Rick Van Houcke said Friday.

Van Houcke was one of two people inside the metal fabrication shop when the fire broke out.

“We were repairing a piece of equipment when all of a sudden, we looked up (and) noticed fire,” he said.

Attempts to douse the flames with fire extinguishers didn’t work, so Van Houken and his employee called 911 and began taking equipment outside.

Firefighters responded and quickly realized they had a serious situation on their hands.

“We found smoke emanating from numerous locations,” said Geoff Hayman, Brant County’s deputy fire chief.

“It was obvious that we would be unable to stop it.”

Instead, firefighters focused on preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings – something they were able to do successfully.

Crews were called in from all corners of the county as the day wore on.

Ali Alizi, who owns nearby Tito’s Pizza, said he could feel the heat from the flames inside his store.

“It was really bad,” he said.

Damage is estimated at $400,000.

Van Houcke said he expects to reopen his business, but not rebuild on the site of the burned-down building.

The first section of 11 Market Street dates back to the mid-19th century, with an addition built on in the 1920s or 1930s, Van Houcke said.