Firefighters battle 'pretty large' blaze at tractor shop in Norton
The fire department and police are at the scene of a "pretty large" fire in Norton, says RCMP Sgt. Andre Pepin.
First responders arrived at the fire around 4:40 a.m. at Hall Bros. Enterprises Ltd., a tractor dealer, on Route 104 in the southern New Brunswick village.
Sue Hicks McFarland, who lives next door to the shop, said she woke up at 5 a.m. to sirens.
"I just saw smoke billowing out of the Hall Brothers building and then I woke up my husband and we watched and it was just totally engulfed in flames," Hicks McFarland said, describing it as a "terrible shock."
"[The] Hall Brothers [are] like the heart of the community in Norton. They do so much hard work for the community and they're just so well-respected in the village."
Hicks McFarland said the fire is under control now, but she said "it does look like a total loss."
Fourteen people work at Hall Bros. Enterprises Ltd., according to the company's website.
Route 124 is closed at the intersection with Route 121.
Wonderland Child Care, located across the road from the shop, is closed because of the fire.
Norton Elementary School is also closed on Thursday.
