2021-06-16

Fire rips through Chester Playhouse theatre

While an investigation continues into what caused a devastating fire that tore through the Chester Playhouse theatre, supporters of the centrepiece of local arts and culture are turning to the community to help them salvage a performing arts season.

Playhouse officials remain optimistic outdoor events can proceed, but the search is on for alternate locations for some previously-planned indoor acts. "Your support now will allow us to present these events in our community, support the artists involved, and help us bring live performance back to Chester," officials with the Pleasant Street theatre explained in a statement posted online June 13.

Donations to help fund its general operations can be made at http://chesterplayhouse.ca/donate/ on the internet. Playhouse officials said the public asked about making financial contributions and said it "remains truly humbled by our community's generosity."

Emergency dispatchers informed Chester volunteer firefighters around 3:15 p.m., June 11, about reports of heavy smoke coming from the attic of the three-storey building in the village.

First responders were eventually met with "heavy fire conditions," Chester's deputy fire chief, Cody Stevens, told Global News.

The severity of the fire, combined with the close proximity of other structures, upped the urgency of more help being needed to extinguish the flames and save nearby property.

Nearly eight dozen firefighters, from close to 20 volunteers departments - from as far away as Bridgewater, Lunenburg, Hantsport and Windsor - descended on the scene.

"We ran five inch supply lines to the ocean, and then we put those lines in between the buildings on each corner and the aerial device is up and we just basically surrounded this entire building with water," Stevens told CTV News.

Close to 20 workers and six residents in the vicinity of the theatre were temporarily evacuated as a precaution, he explained to Global News. People inside the the theatre at the time of the incident also managed to safely get out of the building.

"The few positives from this disaster is no one was hurt and the fire was contained to the upper levels of the building," the Chester volunteer fire department said in a statement posted on social media. Some nearby buildings sustained "minimal damage" as result of the initial fire. The province's fire marshal's office is involved in the investigation.

"There are many questions about what happened, and what happens next, and we will provide answers when we have them," theatre officials said in an online message. "Investigators and assessors will be examining the site over the coming days and weeks, and it will be some time before we know much."

The theatre, owned by the Chester Theatre Council Society, was on the home stretch of a $1 million renovation and upgrade. The society was looking toward the kick-off of the summer season.

The work on the over-80-year-old building included reconfiguring the interior to make it more accessible, improved backstage and technical services, such as sound and lighting, as well as making environmental, structural and safety improvements. It was built in the late 1930s as a movie theatre, and began having live performances in 1963. The renovation was positioning the 176-seat facility for success as a year-round performance venue with expanded programming.

Local public dignitaries expressed sorrow after learning about the fire.

In a message published on social media, municipal councillor Danielle Barkhouse, whose constituency includes the village, described it as a "tragic blow" to the community.

Chester-St. Margaret's MLA Hugh MacKay said on social media he is "greatly saddened" by the fire, but "as with any tragedy in Chester, the Playhouse will rebuild and restore, and be back stronger than ever."

South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Bernadette Jordan said the Playhouse theatre means a lot to the riding.

"My thoughts are with the staff who have made this historic site such an active and meaningful part of the Chester community," she said a in social media post.

"Nova Scotia has shown true resilience this past year, and I know that this will be no different. We'll find a way forward, and this won't be the end of the Playhouse," said Jordan.