The Godet and Young fire
Shortly after 3am this morning, Mandy and I were awakened by strange popping noises, and the sound of distant shouting.
Getting up to investigate, I peered through the screen door to our porch. The first thing I saw was a fire engine parked on Penno’s Wharf. Then I looked to my right and saw flames coming from down by the water. Thanks to the trees and a bend in the road, I couldn’t see what was on fire. But I had a nasty suspicion.
Dressing quickly, Mandy and I ran down the hill. Before we even reached the road, we realised our fears were right.
The warehouse for Godet and Young, the St. George’s hardware store run by my mother- and father-in-law, was on fire.
As yet, the cause is unknown.
More pictures of the fire can be found here.
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Man, sorry to hear about this.
Any idea yet how the fire stated?
Posted by ace on 24.04.06 at 07:17
Not yet. Hopefully the fire service will be able to provide some answers before too long.
Posted by Phil on 24.04.06 at 07:23
Phil
Really sorry to hear that.
Pittsbay
Posted by Pittsbay on 24.04.06 at 07:23
Doesn't look too good from the shots Phil.
Sorry to see that - hope it's sorted quickly.
Posted by Martin on 24.04.06 at 07:32
Oh man - I heard it on the radio. :(
Hope everything works out quickly.
Posted by Somers on 24.04.06 at 08:07
Sorry to hear that, Phil. Hope it was insured.
Now, did you mean to say the warehouse was run by your mother- and father-in-law, as opposed to your mother and father-in law? If it really was the latter, was your marriage arranged by business partners to ensure a dispute-free succession?
Posted by TJL on 24.04.06 at 08:15
Spectacular pictures Phil. Sorry to hear about that. Hopefully the Fire Service will soon let you know the cause of the fire etc.
Posted by Adjustah on 24.04.06 at 09:20
I am sorry; horrible.
I'll put a temporary hold on pop & sizzle jokes.
Posted by Zoom on 24.04.06 at 09:26
Thanks everybody!
Zoom - LOL - You must have been there because there was a lot of pop and sizzle going on with all that paint in there!
Bring on the Pop and Sizzle. Best joke gets a lawn mower courtesy of G&Y... right out of the warehouse!
Posted by Mandy on 24.04.06 at 09:36
Mandy...
Guess the lawnmower is a burnt offering then. You know - I always knew that St Georges was a hot place to live.
Posted by Martin on 24.04.06 at 09:40
Phil,
I am very sorry to hear about the warehouse fire. I am also glad that there were no injuries, and only property loses were sustained.
Paul
Posted by Two Cents on 24.04.06 at 09:40
Sorry to hear the terrible news. Terrible for your family, the employees and the town of St. Georges. Hope no-one was hurt and that re-building can get started soon. I also sincerely hope it was just an accident and nothing else.
Posted by SmokingGun on 24.04.06 at 09:41
Mandy - does that come with fries?
Posted by SmokingGun on 24.04.06 at 09:43
SmokingGun - I think it comes fried... not with fries. :-D
So sorry about the fire. Horrible news this morning... with this and also the shooting in Hamilton. I woke up in shock since it was quite a change from the usual "Mr and Mrs Brown are now reversing out of their driveway!".
Posted by Lisa on 24.04.06 at 09:58
Phil & Mandy,
I wish that I was "handy" as I would love to help with the re-build, as I hate to see mom & pop type businesses damaged to no fault of the owner. But as my wife can attest, I couldn't possibly help as I can't even bang a nail in straight.
Posted by Two Cents on 24.04.06 at 10:01
Two Cents - they've got some great guns for banging nails these days. Actually a lot of fun but I'm out of the construction business as well. However I'm always available for a good roof wetting. I'll bring the rum.
Heck I'll even help slap the paint....
Posted by SmokingGun on 24.04.06 at 10:20
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear this. My best wishes to the G&Y folk...
Posted by Of Many Words on 24.04.06 at 10:34
Thats pretty bad Phil.
The timeframe is ominous but electric causes can occur anytime.
We have a fairly competent fire service and they should be able to determine the cause.
Most importantly I hope that the building and the business are both insured.
Very sorry for your family in all of this.
Posted by Bill Cook on 24.04.06 at 10:35
After looking through the photos I have to say the Fire Department did a great job in controlling the fire. There are some beautiful old buildings in St. Georges that would be sorely missed had things not been so well contained.
Also looks like the gentleman from Belco was himself in a dicey spot whilst protecting the perimeter. The other side of the pole looks pretty blackened.
Posted by SmokingGun on 24.04.06 at 10:56
"We have a fairly competent fire service and they should be able to determine the cause..."
Agreed. But don't always count on it. Especially since the fire was so extensive as to have destroyed any immediately evident ignition point. Also any accelerants stored on the premises could confuse the issue. Then throw in the fcat that it's an old Bermuda building with ancient wiring etc. or simply the fact that it was at 0300HRS could confuse things.
Posted by Adjustah on 24.04.06 at 11:20
Phil and Mandy,
Truly sorry to hear about the fire. Best scenario is no loss of life and worst is clean up and insurance claims. Must give new meaning though to tie/dye painting.
Posted by charles on 24.04.06 at 12:16
Wow - didn't even know about it (living in a vacuum)!
Feel very sad for you & your family Mandy...you too Phil. I'd throw my hat in for the rebuilding anytime for good people like yourselves.
BTW Looking at the pics, I'm sure I would have heard the Gas Station go up had the Fire Service not been on site so quickly. Close call.
Posted by OnDeWata __/)__ on 24.04.06 at 12:20
Sad to hear that, Phil.
Many years I remember shopping there...after the Roberts' hardware shop on the square switched to selling tourists rubbish, it was the only place I could get nails without driving to Hamilton... (I lived in Bailey's Bay, and I'm ignoring SAL because it tuins a beautiful hypothesis). I'm trying to remember what I bought there last...something to do with painting, I think. I'll treasure my memories of a bygone age (the crusty, but helpful, St. Georgian shopkeepers, the adventurous exit from the carpark...), and hope to see it rebuilt when I get back.
I suppose there's an unwelcome humour in the fact you'll have to buy the nails and lumber from one of your competitors.
Posted by Seán Pòl Ó Creachmhaoil on 24.04.06 at 12:42
Jesus...
I can't even get my head around this.
Call me if you need me.
Posted by Uncle Elvis on 24.04.06 at 14:30
I've just uploaded some more pictures of the aftermath of the fire. They start here.
Posted by Phil on 24.04.06 at 22:31
Mandy and Phil,
We were so sorry to hear of this. I hope you know that if we were there we would do all that we could to help with clean up and re-build. We briefly met Mandy's parents at your Christmas party and thought that they were lovely people. We hope that all will work out well and Godet and Young will once again prosper.
Robina and Bill.
Posted by Robina on 24.04.06 at 23:24