One of Alberta’s largest mushroom farms has been destroyed by fire.
Fire destroyed the main growing building at Prairie Mushrooms outside Edmonton. It took 60 firefighters more than six hours to get the blaze under control.
The building contained several specially designed mushroom-growing rooms. Each contained mushroom beds filled with composted manure, which added a source of fuel to the fire.
Prairie Mushrooms produced about 100,000 pounds of mushrooms each week from its main location. Produc-tion will continue at a second, smaller location nearby.
Co-owner Don Kostelyk told Edmonton media the company will move much of the operation to its second location, but estimates about half of its 120 staff will have to be laid off.
Damage from the Good Friday fire is estimated at $7 to $10 million. Prairie Mushrooms will likely rebuild, but it could take 12 to 18 months. The operation was insured.
Firefighters are still investigating how the fire started.
