Weekend fire damages popular Saint Andrews eatery, the Herring

Fire damaged a popular restaurant in Saint Andrews, N.B., over the weekend, forcing its closure for the next several days. 

Emergency officials said the fire at the Herring Pub and Restaurant on Water Street broke out Saturday around 4 p.m. local time and appears to have started in an air conditioning unit.   

An onlooker who spoke to CBC News said flames and smoke were visible from the back of the building. She said passersby began signalling to the diners inside to leave the restaurant.

Officials said there were no injuries.

Saint Andrews fire Chief Kevin Theriault said the damage was mostly limited to a storage room at the back of the building, and firefighters had the blaze largely contained in about 20 minutes.

He said the department's quick response was necessary, especially given the many historic buildings in the Water Street area. 

"A lot goes through your head when a call comes in down here, especially for a working fire. It doesn't take much to have a couple buildings going instead of just one," Theriault said. 

"Luckily we were here quick and got a good knockdown on it and kept it to the one area of the one building." 

Saint Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson said he's relieved there's minimal damage because the Herring and its owner are an important part of the community.

"This is one of the very few restaurants that are open year-round in the town of Saint Andrews, so it is a local favourite. The particular business owner that's being impacted here is one of the most community-minded individuals that we actually have," Henderson said. 

"Despite how it is a major setback for the business, it could've been worse. As much as it is sad to see them go through it, there is a little bit of a sigh of relief."

The restaurant's owner, Kevin Simmonds, did not want to do an interview but told CBC News he hopes to reopen within the next 10 days or so.