Prince George plaza fire causes $1 million in damage, heavily impacting Nelly’s Pub and other businesses

An overnight fire tore through a commercial plaza along Hart Highway in Prince George, causing an estimated $1 million in damage and disrupting several local businesses, including the well-known gathering spot Nelly’s Pub.

Prince George Fire Rescue says crews were called to the blaze at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at Northwood Plaza, a property that includes a liquor store, motel and the popular live music venue.

By around 7:30 a.m., firefighters had largely contained the flames, though smoke was still rising from the building and the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.

Crews prevented even greater destruction

While the plaza remained standing, the roof above several businesses appeared to have suffered severe damage.

Fire Chief Bryan Burleigh said crews were able to prevent even more serious losses, despite intense flames moving across the roof.

No injuries were reported.

Burleigh said there is visible fire damage throughout the structure, along with extensive water damage, and noted that a complete assessment will take more time.

Nelly’s Pub among hardest hit

One of the businesses most affected appears to be Nelly’s Pub, a longtime neighbourhood venue that first opened in 1984 and has served as a regular gathering place for local residents and musicians.

The damage represents more than just a financial loss, Burleigh said, pointing to the broader effect on business owners, employees and the surrounding community.

He said the plaza houses multiple businesses that support jobs and provide important gathering spaces for the public — places that now may be out of operation for an extended period while repairs or rebuilding take place.

In a Facebook post, the pub’s owners said they were still trying to process the scale of the loss.

They described the pub as deeply meaningful to their family and said they had been overwhelmed by the support already shown by the community.

Empty motel may have helped avoid injuries

Burleigh said a motel inside the plaza was under renovation at the time of the fire and was empty, a factor that likely helped prevent injuries.

Even so, he said the impact of the fire will be significant for everyone connected to the property.

The loss is expected to affect not only the businesses themselves, but also patrons who relied on the plaza as a place to gather, socialize and spend time in the community.

One of several major fires overnight

The plaza blaze was one of three major structure fires Prince George crews responded to overnight.

Burleigh said firefighters were also called to a fire at a strata complex and another at a family home, creating what he described as a tremendous workload for emergency crews.

He said injuries in those other fires were minimal.

The Hart Highway fire is also the second major blow in recent months to a well-known gathering space in Prince George, following the September arson that destroyed CrossRoads Brewing downtown.