Fire ripped through a downtown building early Sunday morning, destroying a historic Brunswick Street structure that formerly housed RE/MAX Centre City Realty.
Nineteen firefighters were initially called to the scene at 611 Brunswick at 6:07 a.m. on Sunday and they arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the back of the wood building. A callout brought more firefighters to the fire but they were unable to save the building and it is a total loss.
Prince George Fire Rescue deputy chief Cliff Warner said firefighters evacuated the adjacent Travelodge hotel and were able to keep the fire from spreading to that building.
“They did a good job of keeping the fire away from the hotel, the hotel is looking good and we should be able to get the people into the hotel this morning,” said Warner.
“The original fire was in the back of the building and we got the back knocked down but it got into the walls.”
Before it became a realtor’s office, the building was the Buffalo Brewing Company and Jordy’s Lounge. It originally opened in early 1970s as Vienna Schnitzel restaurant.
There were no injuries.
Warner estimated the damage at about $2 million. The cause of the blaze was still unknown.
“At this point it would appear suspicious, it’s still under investigation," said Warner.
