Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware, on Monday, January 21st at 5:00 a.m., a popular truck stop located five kilometres from Fort Providence was accidentally set on fire during an attempt to thaw the water lines.
Mr. Speaker, the Big River Service Centre is a well-known restaurant and service station that primarily serves the trucking and tourism industry and is located only minutes from the ferry crossing, where one can buy gas, have a bite to eat or rent a room. Although the fire destroyed the restaurant, the craft shop and the convenience store, the older section of the building is still operational and allowing some services to resume.
Today, I want to thank the local fire brigade who are credited for a speedy response and early containment of the blaze. As a result, currently available are re-fuelling services, lodging and a soup kitchen. I also want to thank the Evergreen Forestry fire fighters who were available to relieve the tired fire brigade members who worked a long, 12-hour shift.
Mr. Speaker, the fire was in the immediate proximity of very hazardous products. The gas pumps and propane storage was only a few hundred feet away from the fire, and this fire occurred during a very cold period of the winter. It goes without saying, Mr. Speaker, that these fire fighters had to work under extreme conditions.
As in most small communities in the North when incidents like this occur, community residents band together to help out. Don Plante and Cheryl Pztenue, owners of the Big River Service Centre, were certainly overwhelmed with appreciation from the response of the community of Fort Providence and others who helped out.
Mr. Speaker, plans are to rebuild. Clean up has already taken place and the new modular buildings will arrive by April 1st. They will house a restaurant, a craft shop and a convenience store. All construction was slated to be done by April 10th, with hopes of having full services restored by April 13th. This is welcoming news for all the customers that rely on the service station and the locals that frequent this business.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped out, especially the Fort Providence fire department. I also want to wish the owners of the Big River Service Centre the best of luck. I certainly want to commend Don and Cheryl on their decision to stay in Fort Providence and rebuild, and by doing so, demonstrate that the North is a good place to do business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause