The Fredericton Fire Department is investigating a fire that occurred on the site of the Nashwaaksis Arena early Sunday afternoon.
The arena, located on Johnston Avenue on the north side of the city, was being demolished.
Fire officials said the pile of rubble at the site caught fire at 2:15 p.m. Arson is suspected, said Fredericton Police Force Cpl. Dwight Doyle.
"We believe it was set," said Doyle. "By who, we're not sure. Right now it's an arson investigation, and the fire department starts that, and they let us know when it's time to bring us in."
Assistant deputy fire chief Bob Martin said a construction worker, who was working at the site, stepped away for half an hour.
When he returned, Martin said, the pile of rubble was on fire.
Two thirds of the pile was up in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene, he said.
Sixteen firefighters and six pieces of equipment were used to fight the stubborn blaze.
"Steel had been separated from the building itself, the demolition crew had done that," Martin said. "What we have here is burning rubble - a lot of it is roofing material, siding, insulation,"
No homes or businesses were evacuated, but the fire department advised people living in the area to keep their windows closed and shut off their ventilation systems.
No one was injured.
Martin said the fire department called the Department of Environment to assess the site, since some of the water used to put out the fire may have run into the river.
Michael Correy from the Environment Department arrived on the scene shortly after 5 p.m. The details of his findings should be available this week, but Martin said he isn't concerned.
"I personally don't believe there is any hazard or any problem," Martin said.
But it's standard procedure where we're close to the river, we do have the run off.
"But there is a fair amount of ballfields between us, so the absorption rate is pretty good."
Martin said firefighters needed to flip the pile of rubble upside down because a lot of the fire came from underneath.
Firefighters were on the scene until 7:42 p.m. Sunday.
The Fredericton Police Department was helping the fire department by controlling vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Doyle said Main Street was blocked from Brookside Drive to Sunset Drive to allow the fire hose to cross the street.
Nancy Stewart, who lives in Devon, heard the sirens from her home. She said she hopes someone didn't start it intentionally.
"I think it's a shame if it was set because all the smoke and fumes are bad for people's health, and it's not good to have that," she said.
The 38-year-old arena was closed and demolished because the city decided to build a new sports complex on the north side.
Stewart said the arena had a special spot in her family's heart. Her son played hockey there when he was younger.
He's living out west now, but Stewart said she has been sending him newspaper clippings and photos of the arena.
She said when he hears about the fire, he will be flooded with memories of his childhood.
"It would make him think of all the times he had there, playing hockey and enjoying himself," she said.
Ernest MacFadzen was a co-chair on the committee that tried to save the arena and have it converted into a community centre.
"I think that the arena said, 'Well if you're going to tear me down, I'm going to burn up. I'll make a stink,' " MacFadzen said.
But joking aside, he said he's sad to see the arena gone.
"The arena was the linchpin of our community of Nashwaaksis," he said. "Everything happened there. There are ballfields, tennis courts around handy.
"That arena could have been a community centre with very little problems. I just feel bad that we weren't able to convince the city to retain it as a community centre."