St. Mary’s fish plant destroyed by fire as crews face hurricane-force winds in N.L.

The fish plant in the Newfoundland community of St. Mary's has burned to the ground as the community faces hurricane force winds and heavy rain.

St. Mary's Mayor Steve Ryan told CBC News Tuesday that the fire was reported to him earlier in the night. He said he was the first person on scene at the plant, owned by St. Mary's Bay Fisheries, and said much of the building is already lost.

There are three fire crews on site, Ryan said, but they are facing hurricane force winds as a weather bomb sweeps across the province. Ryan said the structure was gone before crews could even get to the fire.

Winds at Cape St. Mary's were reportedly gusting as high as 172 km/h, according to meteorologist Rodney Barney.

Sherry Gambin-Walsh, the Liberal MHA for Placentia-St. Mary's, said she and the community are devastated by the loss.

"I'm heartbroken. I really, truly am," she said.

"They're just standing there watching their source of employment just burn to the ground.… This has done so much for the community, this employer. It's really hard to wrap my head around this."

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