A massive fire in Middle West Pubnico has destroyed a lobster pound and nearby freezer facility.
RCMP confirm they were called just before midnight on Friday.
Departments from West Pubnico, East Pubnico, Woods Harbour, Barrington, Port LaTour, Lake Vaughan, Quinan, Eel Brook, and Amirault’s Hill responded.
A spokesperson with one of the departments says it took about six hours to extinguish the blaze.
There are reports that local residents could hear explosions related to the fire from two kilometres away.
There were no injuries.
There is no word on a cause.
Police are still on scene and will be investigating, but remain tight-lipped about any details.
There are unconfirmed reports of police presence and a K9 unit searching in the Abbot’s Harbour Road area shortly after the blaze.
The lobster pound, on Highway 335, was the site of a clash involving Indigenous and commercial fishers earlier this week.
A CBC report from 2017 identifies the plant owner as Juehui International Canada Corporation.
The 2017 report notes that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended the company’s license at the time due to inadequate food safety controls.
