'In disbelief': Surrey skate shop co-owner devastated after fire at commercial building
9 fire trucks were called to a fire at a commercial building in Surrey Sunday morning
A local skateboard shop owner says he's devastated after a fire tore through a commercial building in Surrey's Newton area early Sunday morning.
"In disbelief and completely blown away," said Chadd Sinclair, co-owner of Community Board Shop. "You could see the smoke billowing up into the sky from like a few blocks away."
Surrey Fire Service said about 28 firefighters, nine fire trucks and multiple emergency personnel responded to the fire broke around 7:45 a.m. at a commercial structure near 13400 71A Avenue.
According to Assistant Deputy Chief Rich Bodnark, crews arrived to find "heavy black smoke and flames" coming from the rear of the building.
Bodnark says the rear of the building suffered extensive damage, but there were no injuries.
Sinclair says his shop, which is located at the front of the building, sustained significant smoke and water damage. The back of the property, which includes residential units where Sinclair's sister and others lived, was gutted.
"My sister's place... got completely engulfed in flames," Sinclair said, adding that she and another resident at the unit are currently staying at a hotel.
Sinclair estimates that between $10,000 and $20,000 in product may have been damaged, much of it likely unsellable.
With prime skateboarding season just beginning, he says he worries about the long-term impact on the business.
"[That's] about $3,000 up to $10,000 if not more a month that I could be losing in revenue."
The skate shop owner says the shop has become a hub for young skateboarders since it opened in 2017.
"I was actually just in the process of building a ramp, getting a ramp put inside, a mini half pipe and then possibly doing skate lessons, trying to teach the younger generations."
Despite the damage, Sinclair says he's determined to keep serving the community.
"My parents run Sinclair's Motorsports," he added. "Maybe we can move some gear over there cause that's usually my main focus is trying to help out the local kids and keep them out of trouble by giving them skateboarding."
Surrey Fire Service said the actions of first responders helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. No cause has yet been determined.