A vacant building on Milltown Boulevard in St. Stephen has been destroyed by fire.
Firefighters in St. Stephen were called to 449½ Milltown Blvd. at 4 a.m. following a report of a structure fire, according to Fire Chief Sean Morton.
Upon arrival, he explained, the structure was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Calais, Maine assisted St. Stephen in the four-and-half-hour battle, with about 20 fire firefighters in total.
Morton told The Courier that these fires generate significant heat with part of a nearby building having been impacted by the blaze. As a result, firefighters could not get too close, he added.
Police are also seeking the public’s help on a suspected building arson at the property.
“Through the investigation, it was determined that the fire had been intentionally set,” said a release by the New Brunswick RCMP. “No one was living in the building at the time of the fire.”
The building was formerly owned by Starshine Properties. Annette Pankela, an alleged absentee landlord, owns several buildings in St. Stephen that have fallen into disrepair and are often vacant.
In October 2025, the property was involved in a tax sale. Morton said it is now under new ownership.
Around 10 a.m., demolition crews were tearing down the building. Part of the structure remained standing and posed a safety hazard, Morton explained.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. It is the third significant fire in Charlotte County in just two weeks.
Anyone who has information that could help further the investigation is asked to contact the St. Stephen RCMP at 506-466-7030. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.
