A fire broke out on Sunday at the R&R Malone Complex in Pockwood Pond, affecting a space in the corner of the building that was being used as a church, according to Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean.
“We received the call at 11:59 a.m. this past Sunday,” Mr. McLean told the Beacon on Tuesday. “We responded with trucks from both the Cappoons Bay Fire Station and Fire Headquarters. The officers were able to extinguish the fire by around 2:30 p.m.”
According to Mr. McLean, only the space being used by the church was affected in the blaze. About one third of the contents inside the space were affected, he said.
“The fire officers were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the other areas within the structure,” he said. “They did a marvelous job.”
Mr. McLean did not say what caused the fire, but said an investigation is ongoing.
The same complex saw a fire in its second storey in April 2018. At least two people were injured, including a firefighter, and low water pressure proved to be a challenge in extinguishing that blaze.
At the time, building owner Carvin Malone — who is now the minister of health and social development — said the cause of the fire was unknown.
On Tuesday, Mr. McLean said he was not at liberty to discuss the cause of the 2018 fire, adding that the matter is goingthrough litigation.
Mr. Malone could not be reached for comment this week.