A massive fire in Manotick has destroyed four businesses and left behind $1 million in damages.
Ottawa Fire says calls came in around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning reporting visible flames from the building at 5556 Manotick Main.
James Watt, the co-owner of the Manotick Village Butcher, says his landlord texted him around 7 a.m. to tell him the building was on fire. Watt says when he got to the scene he found his shop had been completely destroyed. He says he was able to get some kitchen equipment from the charred remains of the building, but his business will have to stay closed for the time being.
“We’ve been told by the fire inspectors the building’s been closed and nobody’s allowed access, so we can’t get anything else out of it,” he said. “The landlord’s looking at it and he figures he’s going to have to demolish the building.”
He says they are looking at possibly opening up shop elsewhere, but that will likely cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Veronique Ayling, the owner of V's Cupcakes, says she's struggling to cope with the loss of her business.
"It means a lot to me," she says. "I spend more hours here than in my own house. It kept me alive, and it means everything."
The fire means she's been forced to reschedule an annual Lyme disease fundraiser. Ayling opened V's Cupcakes after the debilitating illness forced her to leave the military.
She says she plans to re-open the shop in the future.
"Lyme Disease did not kill me," she said. "I'm still here so I don't think this is going to stop me. It will slow me down, but we will find a way to keep going."
Watt says the community and his customers have been supportive.
“Everybody has been absolutely amazing,” he said. “Our customers come from all over Ottawa and literally everybody has been like ‘Tell us what we can do to help.’”
The cause of the fire is not yet known. The Ontario Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate.