The Town of Mayerthorpe lost several businesses to a fire that broke out early Saturday morning. The fire started in a building on Main Street, causing heavy smoke in the area and prompting the town to ask residents to conserve water. RMCP said Mounties were called in at about 8:30 a.m. to assist with the fire that had affected at least three businesses. Kelley Granley owned the gym on Main Street that was destroyed. He said its not the first time the community has had to recover from a significant fire. In 2008 the town’s arena burned to the ground, and then, in 2016, the historic CN trestle bridge was destroyed in an arson. “We seem to start to make things look nice and get ahead a little bit, and these kind of things happen. It’s a shame,” he said. ”Mayerthorpe is a pretty good community," he added. “We bind together in these situations ... I got a thousand phone calls this morning from friends and family, all wondering how they can help.” Jurgen Preugschas, the reeve of Lac Ste. Anne County, used to own of the businesses that burned down. “It’s a devastating loss,” he said. “The town of Mayerthorpe is near and dear to me ... hearing that the place is burnt down, it’s heart wrenching.” In a social media post, Mayerthorpe Mayor Allan (A.J.) Malcolm said the community faced a “difficult and heartbreaking moment.” “These businesses are more than just buildings. They represent years of hard work, dedication, personal investment, and relationships built within our community. Behind every business are people, families, livelihoods, and dreams,” Malcolm’s post read. “There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead for those directly impacted, and recovery will take time. But if there is one thing that defines Mayerthorpe, it is the strength of our people and the way we come together when times are difficult,” the post continued. RCMP said the investigation into the fire was still in the early stages Saturday afternoon. Anyone who saw anything “suspicious” or who has footage from the area around the time of the fire is asked to contact Mayerthorpe RCMP. Mayerthorpe is about 115 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
