'Hopefully we'll get through this one also': Milltown fires hit 3 months after devastating floods - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 09:21 PM | Calgary | -12.2°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
NL

'Hopefully we'll get through this one also': Milltown fires hit 3 months after devastating floods

Milltown has been affected by tragedy for the second time in just three months. Tuesday's devastating fires follow the disastrous floods of October 2016.

Town's Lion's Club helps feed, support emergency responders once again

Melvin Ingram, president of the Milltown Lion's Club, says the community is pulling together following Tuesday's fire.

The community of Milltown-Head of Bay d'Espoir is dealing with the aftermath of a series of fires set early Tuesday morning that gutted its school, town hall and police station.

Donald Craig MacHaight, 48, faces three charges of intentional cause of damage by fire in connection with fires set at the Milltown-Bay d'Espoir Town Hall, Bay d'Espoir Academy andBay d'Espoir RCMP detachment.

Despite the hardship, the town is rallying together.

"It feels great that the community [has] come together us as the emergency response centre, being here and available to serve meals to the volunteer firefighters and whoever else is helping out, it's just a pleasure and that's what we're here for in the community," said Melvin Ingram, president of the Milltown Lion's Club.

Just recovering from that and now we've got this.- Melvin Ingram

He said the centre opened early Tuesday morning to help in any way possible, includingservingfood to about 55 firefighters who helped fight the blaze.

While the fires came as a shock, theymarkthe second devastation for the town in just three months.

October floods cut off the community

Supplies of food and water arrive in Milltown, near St. Alban's, in October 2016 after a bridge washed out, cutting off the town. (Brandon King)

In October 2016, Milltown was one of the communities hit with intense rain and flooding.

"We just done it in October everything was devastated, sowe pulled together. Just recovering from that and now we've got this," Ingram said.

"We're all pulling together. Everyone is helping out, which is good, and hopefully we'll get through this one also."

With files from Chris Ensing