Damage Estimated in Millions After Fire Breaks Out at Green Diamond Equipment in Bath
Bath, PEI –** A devastating fire tore through the Green Diamond Equipment dealership in the Summerside area late Friday afternoon, causing extensive damage estimated to be in the millions of dollars. Workers were forced to evacuate as towering flames, thick black smoke, and the unsettling sound of popping ammunition engulfed the area.
Emergency services were called to the scene just after 3:30 p.m. when employees noticed smoke billowing from one of the main service bays. Within minutes, the fire had rapidly intensified, fueled by flammable materials and equipment inside the building.
“It escalated incredibly fast,” said Dave MacLean, a mechanic who was working on a combine harvester at the time. “One moment it was a bit of smoke, the next we were running for our lives.”
The Bath and area fire departments, joined by neighboring units from O’Leary, Alberton, and Summerside, battled the blaze for hours. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as emergency vehicles streamed into the rural property, where flames soared above the roofline and heavy plumes of smoke could be seen from kilometers away.
One of the biggest concerns for firefighters was the presence of stored ammunition on site, commonly kept for wildlife deterrent equipment and used by local farmers. Explosions were heard intermittently as the fire ignited boxes of shells and cartridges, forcing fire crews to take extra precautions.
“No one was injured, which is a miracle considering the intensity of the fire and the presence of ammunition,” said Chief Ryan McIsaac of the Bath Volunteer Fire Department. “We had to pull our crews back several times because of the risk of explosion.”
Authorities confirmed that all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for. The business, a major John Deere dealership in the region, employs over 20 staff and serves a large swath of Prince County’s agricultural community.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary reports suggest it may have started in a service area where machinery repairs were underway. Fire investigators from the provincial fire marshal’s office were on site Saturday morning combing through debris and interviewing staff.
Green Diamond Equipment issued a statement expressing gratitude that no lives were lost and thanking first responders for their efforts.
“We are devastated by the loss of our Bath location, but we are thankful for the quick action of our employees and emergency services,” said the statement. “We are committed to supporting our staff and customers through this difficult time and will be working on a plan to resume operations as soon as possible.”
Farmers across the region have expressed concern about the short-term impact of the fire, as the dealership was a vital source of parts and service, especially during the spring planting season.
Insurance assessors have begun their evaluations, but early estimates suggest damage could exceed \$3 million, making it one of the largest commercial fire losses in the area in recent memory.
Officials say it could take weeks before the full extent of the damage and a timeline for rebuilding is known.
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