'The Croft lives on': Longstanding bar survives major downtown fire in Prince George
No injuries reported. Cause still under investigation
A longstanding Prince George bar has survived a downtown fire that claimed a vacant building next store.
At about 2 p.m. PT Thursday afternoon, fire crews from four different halls were called to the former City Second Hand Store on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Dominion Street.
Over the course of several hours, they worked to contain the flames and, as of Friday morning, were still on hand to put out hot spots.
Nearby buildings were also evacuated, including the Croft bar, which is directly next door to the site of the fire.
In an update posted by the city, Fire Chief Cliff Warner said there had been a "real concern" about losing surrounding buildings, adding, "The guys did an unbelievable job of saving the Croft."
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
According to the Prince George Heritage Commission, the Croft was originally built as the Corning Hotel in 1929 and has survived multiple fires, including an explosion that levelled a building just a block away in 2023.
In a Facebook post Thursday, the bar provided an update, saying despite smoke and water damage, it was still standing.
"The Croft lives on, just not tonight," the post reads. "Keep ya posted."