A quick response from Morden Fire and Rescue prevented what could have been a much more serious fire at Pure Anada, a local business in downtown Morden, Friday (April 11).
According to Fire Chief Andy Thiessen, the blaze broke out in the back of the store while a liquid was being heated on the stovetop. “The liquid they were warming up caught on fire and burned up into the hood over the stove,” Thiessen explained. “From there, it started to burn into the wall and was beginning to move up toward the attic.”
"We were about a block away, so our response time was about 30 seconds." - Fire Chief, Andy Thiessen
Firefighters ready to go
Fortunately, firefighters were nearby at the time the call came in. “We were about a block away, so our response time was about 30 seconds,” said Thiessen. “We were able to knock it down quickly before it got into the ceiling.”
Thanks to the prompt action, damage was minimal. Firefighters primarily used an extinguisher to suppress the flames and only used a small amount of water to cool things down afterward, resulting in very little water damage.
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Back in business soon
The business temporarily closed to clean and reorganize the affected area, but Thiessen noted that reopening could happen quickly. “They just want to get things cleaned up in the back before concentrating on reopening the front of the business,” he said.
Thiessen emphasized the importance of attentiveness when using stovetops. “The employee turned away for just a moment and came back to find it already burning,” he said. “It’s a good reminder — if you’ve got something on the stove, don’t leave it unattended.”
No injuries were reported, and the incident serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the effectiveness of quick action and proper emergency response.