What was intended to be an example of saving has become costly for the Edmonton Transit System (ETS).
An ING Direct installation of a car made of paper cups at Churchill LRT Station was allegedly set on fire Saturday morning.
Officials said a fire alarm alerted them to the blaze just before 1 a.m.
“The station had to be shut down. It had to be cleaned up,” ETS control-room superintendent, Jamie Ewatski, said.
The fire cause flooding in the station, the library parkade and a construction area to the north.
Although an exact damage estimate has not been determined Ewatski said it could be over $100,000.
“It has damaged our sprinkler system and as well flooding throughout this station,” he explained.
Although trains continued to run, there were no stops at Churchill Station.
Ewatski said that buses were called out to transport passengers.
The Station reopened by mid-day.
The paper cup car was set up by the company as a contest meant to show Edmontonians how they could cut back on daily indulgences to increase their long term savings.
It took a month of research and development as well as three days to build the creative car piece.
With files by Amanda Anderson
