By Jim Brown
jim@peicanada.com

Twenty-three firefighters and five fire vehicles were dispatched from the Alberton Fire Department shortly after 9:30 p.m Tuesday night to the Cascumpec Gas & Convenience store on Cascumpec Road.

An alarm had sounded when one of the businesses’ three dryers malfunctioned and caught fire.

Fortunately, the fire was contained before it could spread throughout the building, which houses a bakery, cafe and convenience store, as well as a gas bar.

The business’s operation, other than the laundromat, was not affected and it resumed normal hours.

Only a single dryer was destroyed.

Shawn Handrahan, husband of the business’s owner, Lesa Handrahan, credited a very good alarm and security system and the swift arrival of Alberton firefighters for containing the damage to just one room.

He said he was amazed at how quickly firefighters arrived, approximately 10 minutes after they received the call.

Another five minutes and the fire could have done considerable damage to the rest of the business, he said.

Cascumpec Gas & Convenience store employs three full time and six part-time staff, said Mr Handrahan.

Alberton firechief Kenny Ramsay said the ceiling above the dryer and a smoke detector were blackened and just a few more minutes could have had devastating consequences.

Mr Ramsay said a thermal imaging camera was used to help pinpoint the location of the fire which was obscured by thick, blinding smoke.

That device helped the department reduce the toll from water damage, since firefighters knew exactly where to apply the water, he said.

O’Leary firefighters were also called, but were sent back before they arrived, since the fire was contained.