Crews Battle Fire in Downtown Woodstock

A fire in downtown Woodstock Tuesday morning has caused extensive damage to several businesses and displaced at least 20 people.

Fire crews from Woodstock and Hartland, N.B. and Houlton, Maine have been battling a blaze that reportedly originated at the Rose building just before 10 a.m.

The building houses The Max Skate & Snow and Mother Nature's Market and other businesses as well as apartments on the second floor.

Adjacent buildings in that block were also at immediate risk from fire damage. Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing through downtown Woodstock hours after the fire broke out.

Woodstock police asked motorists to avoid the area of Connell and Main Streets between the town bridge and Tim Horton’s.

Firefighters worked to contain the blaze and to keep it from spreading to adjacent businesses and apartments.