‘Months, not weeks’: City provides recovery, restoration update after Kitchener Market fire

After a fire earlier this month, the City of Kitchener has released an update on its efforts to restore indoor operations at the Kitchener Market – warning the road to recovery will likely be measured in “months, not weeks.”

It was back on July 12 when the city shared news of a fire that burned at a vendor stall in the overnight hours. The fire was extinguished with no reported injuries, and no indication of foul play was discovered. Early damage estimates were pegged around $50,000, though clean-up efforts have left indoor operations closed to the public.

In a release, the city noted that those indoor operations are likely to remain impacted for several months as crews work on “extensive remediation and restoration” for the building.

“Many vendors are dealing with business disruption, lost inventory and uncertainty about the months ahead, and those impacts are being felt by our local businesses and the broader community.” said Andrew Sturgess, director of business growth and entrepreneurship at the City of Kitchener.

RELATED: Damage estimated at $50K following blaze at Kitchener Market

“We understand the seriousness of this situation, and helping the Market recover as quickly as possible is our highest priority.”

The last month has been busy for staff – the city notes that their teams have been working alongside public health officials and other specialists to assess damage to the Market, revealing that while the fire may have been contained to a small area, the damage was not.

“… smoke, soot and other fire-related contaminants spread through the facility, including mechanical and ventilation systems.” reads a release from the city. “As a result, extensive cleaning, remediation and restoration work is required before indoor operations can safely resume.”

Sturgess noted that there’s no firm timeline in place for when indoor operations will continue, though the city will be working to keep its vendors informed. It’s said that recovery work will require “detailed planning and assessments” along with building remediation and reinstallation of vendor spaces and infrastructure.

Vendors will be required to remove their inventory and equipment from the facility by Aug. 19.

The city also noted that Market vendors will not be charged any rent during the recovery period, while support for those vendors will continue through “ongoing promotion” and “expanded outdoor market operations.”

Shoppers are still encouraged to visit the Kitchener Market during outdoor operation days, available every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can read more about the Kitchener Market here.