BURNED TO THE GROUND
A historic farmhouse that was part of a wedding catering business at Agar’s Corner east of Saskatoon off Highway 16 was destroyed by fire on Tuesday.
An early morning fire destroyed a century-old farmhouse east of Saskatoon that had received a Saskatchewan Register of Heritage Property designation and was part of a wedding catering business.
The blaze erupted Tuesday morning at Agar’s Corner: Country House and Wedding Catering near Clavet.
It reduced the house, which was built in 1916, to a smouldering ruin by midday.
The woman who was the sole occupant of the building managed to escape unharmed. She said she believed the fire started in the basement. Firefighters responded around 4:45 a.m. and had the flames under control by 8 a.m.
Ashley Markwart said she and her fiancé were looking forward to getting married at the popular destination this summer, and were shocked to hear about the fire. Markwart said her first concern was for the family.
Members of the Agar family couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday. Their business website says five generations grew up on the property at the corner of Highway 16 and Township Road 360.
Markwart said her fiancé contacted the owners on Tuesday and was assured their wedding can go ahead, since the fire was limited to the house and did not consume any of the outbuildings on the property.
“It sounds like we’re going to figure this out,” Markwart said, adding that she was extremely relieved no one was hurt and it appears the owners’ catering business will be able to continue.
Saskatoon fire department assistant chief Wayne Rodger said firefighters were “fairly certain” the blaze originated in the basement, but were unable to tell because extreme temperatures prevented anyone from going downstairs.
Rodger said the fire was “fully involved,” meaning the entire structure was affected and likely destroyed. He said the Saskatoon department won’t do a full investigation or damage assessment because the property is outside their jurisdiction.