A chemical-fuelled blaze turned Eric's World of Leisure into a pillar of fire and smoke that could be seen from the hospital Friday night.
Thirty firefighters and five trucks from four halls battled the blaze at the Quebec Street business after being called around 9:30 p.m. Heavy black smoke - caused by the burning foam of the hot tub covers within the building - billowed into a plume in the night sky and attracted cellphone photo-snapping onlookers from around Prince George, some of whom arrived by city bus.
Flames shooting from the back of the building pushed firefighters into a nearby alley and chemicals stored in the building - including bromine and chlorine - forced police to evacuate at least one city block. A nearby nightspot was among the buildings cleared and shivering youngsters that had been enjoying a night on the town mingled with the curious as firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus entered the one-storey building again and again.
"There's a lot of chemicals, chlorine and bromine" said assistant chief Greg Wilkins of the Prince George Fire Department. "It reacts with fire, it reacts with water. Also there's a lot of foam - the black smoke was from the foam from the hot tub covers.
"We're taking precautions."
A bystander said she first saw smoke billowing from Eric's World of Leisure around 9:25 p.m. Other witnesses, chatting as some snapped photos and texted, said they saw smoke in the night sky from as far away as the University Hospital of Northern B.C.
Firefighters appeared to have the blaze contained around 10:30 p.m.
It is not known how badly damaged the business was but flames from the fire reached at least four storeys.
The Eric's World of Leisure website says the business has been in operation since 1996 and that it is a one-stop shop for pool, hot tub, softeners and game room needs, including billiards.
The chlorine and bromine stored in the building may have been used for sanitizing pools and hot tubs.
Also on scene was Tom Wainwright of the neighbouring John Howard Society, a non-profit organization. He said firefighters called him to request entrance to the society's premises but were forced to break in as the fire spread. He did not know the extent of damage to John Howard building, if any.
