ROCHE PERCEE - The Village of Roche Percee has been forced to find a temporary home after a fire damaged its permanent building.
Mayor Jay Riedel said residents spotted the fire at around 6 a.m. on July 5. The fire didn't cause a lot of damage, but the village office was based out of an ATCO trailer, so the structure will likely have to be replaced.
"The North Portal and the Portal Fire Department responded, and they ascertained that it was due to lightning strikes from the storm the night before," said Riedel.
He credited the town residents who noticed the fire, which enabled the village to take measures to keep the fire at bay while waiting for the fire department to arrive.
Fire crews arrived within 30 minutes, which is a good response time considering the distance and the time of day.
"We could cover the hole in the side of the building with two sheets of plywood. It was basically right at the bathroom area. They think it [the lightning] might have hit the vent and travelled through somehow, and got into the bathroom area."
The village's computers and paper documents were saved.
Operations are temporarily set up in the Roche Percee Recreation Hall. There has been work taking place within the building, and Riedel said it's perfect for the village to use. The village council meets once a month and the administrator is in the building a few hours each week.
He hopes the situation can be resolved within a couple of months and they can get a new trailer moved in fairly quickly.
