Latest News

Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Damage from Virden fire pegged at $2.5M

By: Staff Writer

Wednesday, Sep. 12, 2012 at 9:34 AM | Comments: 0

STEVE CHINBURG/FOR THE BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

Onlookers watch as flames engulf the True Value Hardware in Virden on Sunday.

The fire that destroyed a hardware store and a seniors' residence in Virden was set deliberately, police say.

Enlarge Image

Clothes can be seen hanging in the closet of one of the four residences that went up in flames early Sunday in Virden. The fire also destroyed the True Value Hardware store. (JILLIAN AUSTIN/BRANDON SUN)

Virden RCMP said this morning that they had determined that the Sunday morning fire was an arson, although they didn't say how precisely they believe it was started.

They also say that damage is estimated at $2.5 million.

On Sunday, Virden's fire chief, Brad Yochim, said that his department had to battle two fires at the same time — and it was the biggest they had dealt with in a long time.

When the fire department arrived shortly after 4 a.m., the back of True Value Hardware was on fire and a next-door seniors' fourplex was also beginning to burn. There was a second fire at the town's Bargain Store a block away.

Firefighters concentrated their efforts on the seniors' residence, allowing everyone to escape unharmed, although they were unable to save the building.

The fire also knocked out power to much of the Virden downtown for hours.

Rate this
This article is currently rated an average of 5 out of 5 (1 votes).

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.