Paradise expects to keep its town hall doors closed for months after fire damage

A fire on Feb. 9 at the Paradise town depot is keeping the depot and the town hall closed for the next few months, says Mayor Dan Bobbett.

The fire is believed to have started in a truck that was preparing for snow clearing.

"The assessments and the inspections are still ongoing at the town hall and the depot. And what we do know is that they will be closed for several months," Bobbett told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show on Thursday.

The inspection will determine what remediation is needed, he said, so the buildings can reopen.

In the meantime, staff who worked out of the town hall are pivoting so they can carry on with their duties in temporary locations, said Bobbett.

"We apologize right now because the town hall is closed for that in-person service," he said.

The town has 98 staff who work out of the town hall, and some are in the process of getting set up at the Paradise Double Ice Complex.

"We have desks set up in various open areas to try to get staff in to continue on with services. So we ask the public to be patient with us for a little while, while we get those services in place," said Bobbett.

He said in-person services will be available again soon and some services are still available online.

Damaged equipment

The fire has put some equipment out of commission, including a trail groomer.

Bobbett said the town usually has five sidewalk plows. Right now it's using two on loan from Mount Pearl and Conception Bay South.

"We're still continuing with sidewalk clearing, but we're going to be delayed," he said.

Bobbett said most of the town's snow clearing equipment was in the depot's yard during the fire and escaped damage.

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