Fire destroys Pipestone livestock market
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/03/2021 (1971 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
PIPESTONE — One of Manitoba’s oldest cattle markets went up in flames Monday night.
Chad Parks, whose family has run Pipestone Livestock Sales since 1985, said he first noticed black smoke coming out of the structure around 6:20 p.m.
“I tried to enter the building, but the kitchen area and office area was totally full of smoke and I couldn’t get in far enough,” he said Tuesday morning. “I tried to get in again and get the lights on, but (the fire) had burned the electrical already.”
He called the fire department and let all cattle out of their pens.
“I think I called 911 at 6:24, and they were there within minutes,” Parks said. “They did an excellent job. They did everything they could.”
However, Pipestone Livestock Sales was a complete loss.
A representative from the Office of the Fire Commissioner said the fire was caused by an electrical panel malfunction near the sale ring area, and caused some $500,000 in damage.
The facility originally opened in 1958 as the Southwest Cattle Feeders Association, becoming Manitoba’s first livestock market outside of Winnipeg.
Parks’ father, Gene, and partner Jim Martin purchased the market in 1985, renaming it Pipestone Livestock Sales.
The market, located some 95 kilometres southwest of Brandon, was closed from 2010 to 2017, before being relaunched after partnering with Brock and Kelly Taylor from nearby Reston.
Parks said the auction house was a community staple in the southwest portion of the province, providing a welcoming space for people looking to do business and stay connected with neighbours.
“That market’s touched their life one way or another,” he said. “Whether they were a customer, a past co-worker, employee, some young kids in 4-H or people we do business with from Quebec all the way out to B.C.”
Parks said it’s too early to tell if Pipestone Livestock Sales will be rebuilt.
“We have lots of hoops to jump through right now,” he said. “We have a fire investigation going on, then you have to deal with insurance and stuff… so I guess we have to see how that all sorts out.”
— Brandon Sun
History
Updated on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 6:24 AM CST: Adds photo