A fire broke out at Brass Eagle Tattoo Company early Wednesday morning around 5 a.m. No injuries were reported, and tenants residing above the shop at 5052 48th Avenue were able to evacuate successfully, said Delta Police Sgt. Dan McLean.
The small shop appeared to be gutted but Delta firefighters were able to keep two neighbouring businesses – The Flower Shop in the Village and Ladner Nails and Esthetics -- more or less unharmed. The blaze was reportedly put out within a couple of hours.
The stretch between Elliot and Delta streets was still cordoned off by police tape at 9 a.m., and co-owner Casey McAskill was among the crowd sitting outside Stir Coffee House watching firefighters pack up.
“They aren’t giving us much information or have anything to share yet,” she told the Optimist, “I’m just waiting to get in there and see if anything is salvageable. We have insurance but there are so many irreplaceable and sentimental things in there so it’s pretty devastating.”
McAskill said she couldn’t even guess what might have started the blaze in her unoccupied business but pointed out “it is an older building.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Two police officers were sent to hospital with smoke inhalation and are expected to be released today.
