Fire investigators and managers of Spinnakers Brew Pub have some encouraging news about the historic pub following yesterday's potentially devastating blaze.
CTV Vancouver Island's Scott Cunningham told CFAX 1070's Joe Perkins things don't look as bad as everyone expected:
"I can tell you speaking to managers they are blown away by initial assessments inside. Damage does not appear to be as bad as first thought last night. But what I do know is that everyone involved, from insurance, managers, fire that we spoke to this morning, everyone was blown away when they got inside. Today in the sober light of day they are seeing an aftermath they did not expect. It's not as bad as they first thought."
Cunningam adds the blaze was not sparked by creosote build up in the chimney, it was wear and tear:
"After so much use in this fireplace it had worn down the protective enamels in the fireplace that makes sure the fire does not get into the outer building, does not heat metal that could then heat wood or burn things. And what I'm told by Fire is that that protective layer had worn away from use. It's an accidental fire and that's why it started."
As for how quickly the pub could be repaired and re-opened there's some pretty interesting speculation:
" I was actually told if things go perfect, if things were to go completely perfect maybe everything's fixed by Christmas. But again that would have to be an amazing feat."
The blaze did an estimated $300-thousand dollars in damage.