The community of Shoal Lake is still in shock after a devastating fire earlier this week.
Just after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, multiple fire departments responded to a blaze at Blades Pizzaria.
Lisa Hogg, deputy mayor for the Yellowhead Municipality, says she feels for those affected and understands how much the restaurant meant to the community.
"It's a big loss for the community. We don't have many restaurants in town," said Hogg. "They are a big supporter of the AAA hockey teams that play out of Shoal Lake. It's a big loss. We now only have the hotel as a restaurant."
While serving gourmet pizza and other menu items, Blades Pizzaria was more than just a restaurant. It was a place for people to gather.
"I know a lot of the AAA parents would go there before games," added Hogg. "It's a meeting place for many in town. It's a place where many of our seniors would go for coffee. It's a major part of the community."
Hogg has heard the fire was electrical in nature and originated in the back storage area.
Half the roof and half the walls were destroyed in the blaze. There are holes everywhere, and the building is not salvageable.
The Hamiota, Shoal Lake, and Strathclair Fire Departments all responded to the blaze. It took crews roughly four hours to fully extinguish the blaze, but it was under control before that. The building was very old and many businesses had called it home in the past.
Hogg thanked the local departments for their efforts.
"Like it was an old repair shop at one time. That building is so old," ended Hogg. "Like it's quite amazing they saved as much as they did. I had walked by at 7:00 a.m. I couldn't believe the devastation. I also couldn't believe there were still walls standing."
In a post, Blades Pizzaria said they're very grateful for the community's support and kindness. They hope to do something else in the future.
