'Lease on life for the community': Bay de Verde fish plant rebuild on schedule

Things are looking up in Bay de Verde, where a sign says the Quinlan Brothers fish plant will be 'back in April 2017.'

The company is on track to open in April 2017 — a year after fire destroyed fish plant

Mark Squibb · CBC News · Posted: Dec 10, 2016 4:30 AM EST | Last Updated: December 10, 2016

This was the scene in April 2016, as a fire ripped through the Bay de Verde fish plant. Quinlan Brothers vowed to rebuild, and construction is on schedule to allow the plant to open in April 2017. (Terry Roberts/CBC)

Things are looking up in Bay de Verde, where a sign says the Quinlan Brothers fish plant will be "back in April 2017."

The raging fire and smoke billowing out of the plant last April had turned the sky an apocalyptic grey, and left dozens of workers unsure of their future.

But now Mayor Gerard Murphy says with the speedy reconstruction of the plant, skies are blue.

"I look at it as a lease on life for the community," said Murphy.

This is what the Bay de Verde fish plant looks like now, as construction is well underway for a 2017 reopening. (Mark Squibb/CBC)

Murphy said the fishery is "the backbone of the economy" and dates back to the 1600s.

"This breathes new life into the community … people are much more at ease now knowing that they will have that place of employment to head to when the season starts this spring."

'You can only imagine the shock'

Residents of the small fishing community of about 400 awoke on the morning of April 11 to see thick smoke streaming from the Quinlan Brothers fish plant.

"Economically it was devastating for Bay de Verde, and the surrounding area, and many other communities throughout the province," Murphy said.

Marco is the company tasked with rebuilding the Bay de Verde fish plant. (Mark Squibb/CBC)

"When a fire wipes out that many jobs in the course of 10 or 12 hours, you can only imagine the shock and dismay and the fear."

After the fire, the company promised that they would indeed rebuild and the plant would be "bigger and better than ever."

A 'way forward'

Marco, an Atlantic Canada construction company, is rebuilding the plant and work is underway.

If the plant wasn't there, they'd have to move away.- Stan Walsh, Bay de Verde resident

Plant Manager Barry Hatch has confirmed that the work is on schedule to be ready for the 2017 season.

In the meantime, the town is eagerly watching the new plant rising from the ashes of the old.

The Quinlan Brothers Ltd. sign says the plant will be 'back again in April 2017.' (Mark Squibb/CBC)

"Most of the people here were fishermen, that's all they did was fish. So if the plant wasn't there, they'd have to move away," said Stan Walsh, a resident of Bay de Verde.

"It's gonna be a way forward, not only for Bay de Verde, but for Trinity Shore, all the way to Carbonear and Bay Roberts and past that."