‘Major’ fire tears through small town northwest of Edmonton
At least three businesses were lost following a “major” fire that burned through the town centre in Mayerthorpe, Atla., the local mayor said.
A devastating blaze engulfed a major portion of the town centre in Mayerthorpe, a small community located about 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. The fire claimed at least three businesses, leaving the local economy in a state of shock and uncertainty. Mayor Allen (A.J.) Malcolm expressed his deepest sympathies for those affected by the tragedy, emphasizing that these businesses symbolize years of hard work, dedication, and personal investment within the community.
Mayerthorpe issued a social media advisory around 6 a.m. Saturday morning, warning residents to stay away from Main Street due to the "major structure fire" in the downtown area. To conserve water, the town also advised residents to limit their water usage for a 24-hour period. By noon that same day, Lac Ste. Anne County confirmed reports of an active fire involving buildings along 50th Street.
The county cautioned the public about heavy smoke in the vicinity and urged everyone to limit outdoor exposure, close windows and doors, and turn off air intakes if smoke was affecting their location.
Among the businesses that succumbed to the inferno was a local gym and a historic building, which had been operational since 1941 and served as a traditional grocer. The Mayerthorpe RCMP confirmed that the investigation into the cause of the fire was still in its early stages. They are actively seeking any witnesses who may have observed suspicious activities and are urging them to come forward and contact either RCMP or local police.
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