Ontario fire marshal investigates blaze at former file factory in Port Hope

The Office of nan Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating a ample occurrence that collapsed retired early Sunday astatine a erstwhile record mill successful Port Hope.

The occurrence collapsed retired astir 2:30 a.m. astatine nan historical Nicholson File Factory connected Cavan Street conscionable northbound of nan downtown. The practice spot pinch its ample ceramic building dates backmost to nan 1870s but had been vacated for decades.

Developers person been readying to person a conception of nan building into upscale condos.

On Sunday afternoon, Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services Chief Jason Williams said that aft aggregate 911 calls, crews recovered nan ample building engulfed successful flames. Three stations responded to nan call.

“We really called communal assistance from some Hamilton (Township) and Town of Coburg Fire Department to assistance owed to nan size and complexity of nan existent building and occurrence scenario,” he said. “Our folks worked diligently, to defensively take sides against this occurrence spreading immoderate further than it did and successfully suppressed it. So correct now, we haven’t deemed it a mislaid stop, but nan occurrence is nether power arsenic you tin see.”

Williams said crews were capable to forestall nan occurrence successful nan confederate half of nan property, known arsenic Block 1, from spreading to adjacent homes and greenery. Earlier this year, immoderate bricks from nan building’s mediate section, called Block 2, collapsed during remediation work, prompting a roadworthy closure successful nan area.

“This occurrence dispersed (in Block 1) because of a batch of nan timber building and property of nan timbers (inside) and there’s besides immoderate building worldly successful there,” he said. “But nan non-combustible ceramic building of nan exterior stopped nan dispersed immoderate further.

No injuries were reported.

Williams said that location is nary consequence to nan nationalist associated pinch fire, and that measures are besides successful spot astatine nan adjacent Ganaraska River which flows done nan town.

“There’s really a designated substances study study conducted connected this spot respective years ago, and nary designated substances were identified wrong artifact 1,” he said. ” So there’s nary consequence to nan nationalist associated pinch nan fume and aliases moreover runoff from our water.”

Trending Now

“We person taken proactive measures to really deploy marine booms successful nan stream conscionable to seizure immoderate charred wood or, h2o that whitethorn beryllium moving disconnected from from nan existent site.”

Williams said his section will beryllium assisting nan OFM and Port Hope Police Service arsenic they analyse nan origin of nan fire. A harm estimate has yet to beryllium determined.

“There is nary harm costs estimate correct now,” he said. “I cognize location is simply a batch of history associated pinch this building.”

Cavan Street will stay closed betwixt Highland and Barrett thoroughfare for perchance nan adjacent fewer days, Williams said.

The Municipality of Port Hope said residents should debar nan area arsenic nan investigation and cleanup continues.

“Recognizing nan nationalist liking surrounding this site, nan municipality is committed to keeping you informed and will supply updates arsenic they go available,” Port Hope said connected Sunday. “The municipality is grateful for nan efforts of nan Fire and Emergency Services squad and acknowledgment our dedicated firefighters for their bravery and accelerated response.

Police inquire pinch video aliases accusation related to nan investigation to telephone them astatine 905-885-8123.

more to come