B Wind, snow hamper fighters TERRACE — Two of the city’s oldest buildings arc gutted and several people are homeless alter fire ripped through the heart of the city, . The blaze destroyed the old Sundal building that housed Grmma’s Aitlic second hand store and some upstairs apart- ments, as well as the adjacent building which most recently housed a Harley-Davidsan motor- cycle shop. Queensway Trading was also extensively damaged by the fire. The intense heat broke windows across, the street at Don Diego’s restaurant and Northwest Sports- man and Ev’s Mens Wear in- curred’ smoke damage. North- western Health Care also suffered extensive water damage, ’ Fire chief Bob Beckett said the fire is believed to have. started just before 2:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in Gramma’s Attic. A cause has yet yet to be determined, _ Firefighters battled fierce winds and blowing snow, and at: onc point feared the blaze could spread to businesses on the 4600- block of Lakelse Ave. Beckett said the department’s mutual aid agreement with the Thomhill Volunteer Fire Depart- ment was invoked. Thornhill’s aerial ladder truck was a key to keeping the fire un- der control. ‘Had it not been for the aerial we may not have been able to ‘save =Northwest Sportsman,’” Beckett said. ‘‘And if we hadn't saved that, who knows what could have happened to the rest of the block.”’ Thornhill fire chief Art Hoving agreed there was great danger of ‘the fire spreading to other build- - ings. ‘They feared wind-whipped em- iaze guts Kalum block The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 27, 1993 - Page A3 : a History r is lost TERRACE — A large picce bf of local commercial history | | was destroyed when fire roared through the 3200 Block Kalum Jan. 19. . The building in which the fire started was built in 1926 by O.T, Sundal, a Norwegian who caiie to the area during ‘the First World: War. ’ The ground level contained a general store, the Sunda residence was on the second floor and apartments on the third floor. Sundal sold the building to a . son-in-law Jim Smith who had possession from 1936 to 1952. The general store was run by Jim’s brother, Fred, who later went on td open a SuperValu store where Fields is now lo- cated. Jim Smith’s widow, Elsie Smith, sold the building to Neil MacKarracher who ran a barber shop in front and Mac’s Billiards in the back. It was then occupied by Danny Solowoniuk’s Danny’s Pool Hall until it closed last year. Gramma’s Attic, run by Donna and Art Wagner, them moved in, NOT MUCH is left as firefighters mop up after an early moming fire Jan. 19 roared through buildings on the 3200 Block Kalum. Two buildings were destroyed and others damaged. Firefighters feared for surrounding buildings during the height of the fire. In- set photo shows the Sundal building in Its original state. [t was one of those destroyed and contained Gramma's Attic and apart- ments at the time of the blaze. That photo is courtesy of Mamie Kerby. bers would spread the flames to Ev’s, the Shan Yan restaurant, Northwest Sportsman, and even the Terrace Co-op. Three men and two women living in the. upstairs apartments narrowly escaped after fire alarms sounded, The fire is being investigated by the Terrace Fire Depariment, the RCMP. and’ the Fire Com- missioner’s office. Beckell said every firefighter in Terrace was on the’ scene ‘in minutes. Nine. volunteers from “Thornhill also-batiled the fire. He said the temperatures were * so high that some firefi ighting equipment — including the brea- thing apparatus gauge worn by one firefighter —- melted. : - One pumper truck was also damaged, lic said. ‘You can imagine just how much heat our firefighters were exposed to,” Beckett said, Apart from one strained back, however, nobody was injured. - “It was exceptional firefight- ing, Extremely aggressive well planned out and very effective. I’m very proud of what we achieved.’’ ' ‘Also destroyed in the blaze was ° atrackanid.car parked in the rear - alley. mazpa mazpa mazpa mazpa mazpa mazpa = GD, player - 25 litre, 6 cylinder engine Attitude Adi iustment 1993 Mazda 626 Cronos DX With more standard features than the Accord LX or Camry | DX it will change your attitude with the turn of a a key. * basic 3yr/80,000 km bumper ta bumper warranty ~* more standard front & rear leg room over Camry & Accord. : * more standard head room over Camry & Accord. ~ * 6 speaker sound system * better fuel economy than Camry & Accord starting Sq G6, A95°° avanabi> With - antl-lock brakes - power mcon roaf We Won't Be Undersold - power drivers seat - leather seats “635-7286 The Dealer Who Cares THORNHILL mazpa 3040 HWY. 16 EAST TERRACE DEALER NO, 7041 “gmazpa mazpa mazpa mazba mazba mazba mazba mazbDa mazpa mazpa eazew BdZELW BaZelwW BaZewW BaZelwW eaZewW eqZzeul BAZeUL eizibin eGreny earew eazeul Bazew Bazew eazZeU BazZeU ‘The most recent owner of the building was the McCarthy family (as in former Social Credit cabinet minister Grace McCarthy) which has other real estate holdings in the city. Also destroyed was the building built by city founder George Little in 1920. The post office operated from there until moving to the 4600 Block Lakelse Ave. in 1952, Partly destroyed in the fire was Queensway Trading, which began life as the first Overwailea - store. It opened Dec. 11, 1952 and was built by Klassen and Doume. Receiving some damage was Northem Healthcare, the for- mer Terrace Drugs. That build- ing went up in 1912 and was ‘first uscd by a Ds. Trainer as ant office and residence. Research for this article pro- vided by Yvonne Moen. Slide on in for storewide bargains at our Pre-Inventory Sale Wednesday, Jan. 27 - Saturday, Jan. 30 20% 25% Selected Giftware ~ Pinwheel Crystal Royal Doulton China 40% Royal Albert China 10% +, iper Saver Table You'll save big on everything from giftware to china... ~ but you must hurry if you want to catch prices as low as the temperature CENTRAL GIFTS No. 102-4716 Lazelle Ave. Terrace 635-3334