Charred remains of a lobster facility that burned to the ground in Middle West Pubnico, N.S. The blaze reportedly began just before midnight on Friday, Oct. 16. (Photo contributed)
RCMP say a man is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries believed to be related to a blaze at a lobster holding facility on Nova Scotia’s south shore.
Mounties also confirm the Friday night fire, which destroyed the commercial building, has been deemed suspicious and is under investigation.
Emergency crews were called to the scene in Middle West Pubnico around midnight Friday night.
Nine fire departments responded to the call and a spokesperson says it took about six hours to extinguish the blaze.
There are reports that local residents could hear explosions related to the fire from two kilometres away.
Police say the building was not occupied at the time and no employees were injured.
The lobster pound was the site of a clash involving Indigenous and commercial fishers earlier this week.
A CBC report from 2017 identifies the plant owner as Juehui International Canada Corporation.
The 2017 report notes that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended the company’s license at the time due to inadequate food safety controls.
With files from Courtney Amirault.
