A fire that raged on for hours into the night destroyed an auction house and cattle pens in Melita, 68 kilometres south of Virden.
Fire officials said they received a call around 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Deputy fire Chief Rob McCutcheon said when he arrived on the scene, the fire was fully involved and flames were going through the roof.
He said there wasn’t much crews could do because the building, which was entirely made of tin, collapsed on itself.
McCutcheon said the auction house stood alone with no other neighbouring buildings.
The auction house was being used as an assembly yard where cattle were being brought in. The last cow was taken out on Friday.
No cattle or people were the building at the time of the fire. Seven or eight people did, however, work in the building.
The owner of the building, Ross Taylor, told CTV his family business is destroyed.
“It’s going to be missed,” said Melita Mayor Bill Holden.
Fire crews left around 3:00 a.m. Sunday. Two members stayed behind to monitor the smoldering building.
