Fire damages longtime Fredericton sporting-goods store

A fire at MacTavish's Source for Sports damaged the prominent downtown business in Fredericton the night before it marked its 56th birthday. 

Six fire trucks responded to the blaze at the rear of the sporting goods store on Queen Street.

David McKinley, the assistant deputy fire chief with the Fredericton Fire Department, said the call came in around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters found smoke coming from several sides of the structure. 

No one was injured, and damage from the flames was contained to the rear of the building.

But there was smoke damage throughout, he said.

Jane MacTavish, who owned the store before selling it to her daughter, Maggie, about a decade ago, said the retailer means much to people in the city, especially because of the people who own it and work there.

They were all involved with sports and would travel, meet people and make new friends along the way.

"You go to the ballfield, you go to the hockey rink, go to a soccer thing, and you get to know everybody," she said.

WATCH | Fire damages rear of MacTavish's sporting goods store:

A prominent downtown Fredericton sports store damaged by fire

1 month ago

Duration 1:53

On the eve of the 56th birthday of MacTavish's Source for Sports, the building caught fire. Nobody was injured and fire investigators are looking for the cause.

"And there are quite a few MacTavishes here," she said. "Several generations — and they all have a lot of friends. 

"I think that's it. Your customers are your friends."

McKinley said investigators were on the scene but it's still unknown where exactly the fire started, and how.

Adam Peabody, the executive director of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said he feels for the business owners, employees and others affected by the blaze. 

He said the MacTavish store has been a staple in the community for generations, especially for young athletes.

"I think many families will relate to going to purchase a first, you know, a set of skates or getting them sharpened there," said Peabody. 

"That community impact, beyond ... their commercial success, is certainly something that we're so proud of with MacTavish's and many other locally, independently owned businesses in our downtown."

Around 5:30 on Wednesday afternoon, Fredericton police announced an arrest was made in relation to the fire.

A release said a 49-year-old man was arrested without incident and is in custody, but police did not say what charge he faced.

No other details about the investigation were shared by police.