Forest, Ont. loses historic downtown building to fire
A local fire chief says a million-dollar fire in a historic building in downtown Forest could have been far worse.
Laurence Swift, of the Lambton Shores Fire Department, says crews fought a stubborn battle with flames beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Several kilometres away a plume of smoke could be seen pouring from the century-old yellow brick building.
By morning, only its shell and bits of woods and brick remained.
“It’s pretty well burnt out on the inside. It’s unlikely to be restored,” Swift told CTV News London at the scene.
Thankfully no one was injured.
The building had been vacant, save for a ground-floor real estate office.
Swift says more than 60 firefighters, including crews from Petrolia and Exeter, assisted in the fight.
Initially, it took one hour to get the fire under control.
However, Swift says about two hours later, an aerial unit opened up the roof.
“We ended up with a big surprise.”
The flames kicked up again.
“The compartment was obviously filled with a high-energy amount of smoke and flames but it had no oxygen. When we opened up the area we introduced oxygen to it and the fire started going again.”
Once again, fears of losing the entire block motivated crews.
Swift says they keep most of the fire damage to the one building and protected the ornate Victorian building abutting it on one side.
Forest resident Ken Cable watched the battle, “It was tough to put out. They worked on that one for a long-time.”
Joanne Hobbs is also thankful the downtown she’s known for decades remains largely intact. Yet, she still she mourns losing another piece of its history.
“It’s a tough way for the community to come together.”
While surveying what is left, Swift concurred, “Losing a building in a downtown core is hard for any community. They’re gaps that often aren’t filled once the buildings are gone.”
The cause is undetermined but Swift says an electrical issue is the most likely culprit.
The building is likely to be knocked down for safety.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.