Three fires keep local brigades occupied

The last couple of days have been pretty busy for firefighters in Caledon.

Local crews have been called out to three major fires.

In the most recent incident, a cottage at the rear of a property on McLaughlin Road was lost early Tuesday morning.

Caledon Fire and Emergency Services (CFES) report they were called out at about 1:30 a.m., and the building was fully involved by the time they arrived. They were hampered by a lack of immediate access to the site, but the property owner was able to clear a path with a tractor.

Fire crews from Snelgrove and Cheltenham, as well as Peel EMS and Caledon OPP, responded.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The building was unoccupied. Damage is estimated at $40,000.

An industrial fire on Manchester Court in Bolton brought out the crew from the local station, as well as the stations in Caledon East, Palgrave and Inglewood at about 6:40 a.m. Monday.

CFES reports they responded to an activated fire alarm at a business. Upon arrival there was nothing visible, but the sprinkler alarm had been activated. About an hour later, a person holding a key to the building arrived, and once inside, firefighters were met with heavy smoke throughout the building.

The reported finding a 45-gallon drum of sawdust in the production area, and CFES believes it had probably smoldered over the weekend and eventually broke into open flame. The fire was quickly knocked down and controlled by one activated sprinkler head.

The sprinkler system was ordered installed recently by CFES following interior renovations to the building. This requirement is consistent with the provisions of the Ontario Fire Code.

The fire department is stressing that this demonstrates the effectiveness of a properly installed and maintained sprinkler system. There was minimal damage to the equipment and contents of the building and the operation is expected to continue production without delay. They said damage from the fire amounted to about $20,000, but it could have been in the millions.

Sunday saw Caledon village and Caledon East firefighters dealing with a blaze at a house on Escarpment Side Road.

They responded at about 11:25 a.m., although their response was delayed by freezing rain on the roads. Town of Caledon public works staff promptly provided crews and equipment to clear access to the house. Until the roads could be cleared firefighters abandoned their trucks and walked about half a kilometre, carrying equipment and breathing apparatus.

Upon arrival, they found that the home had been evacuated. Asmall fire was found in the basement laundry room and was quickly knocked down with a large dry chemical fire extinguisher. Damage to the contents is limited to the basement laundry room and utility areas. There is smoke damage throughout the residence.

The homeowner has been charged with failing to maintain a smoke alarm in operating condition contrary to the Ontario Fire Code.

Fire Chief Brad Bigrigg is reminding all home owners and occupants that it is their responsibility to ensure that there is a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm on each floor of a residence and outside of the sleeping areas. The minimum fine for contravention of this portion of the Fire Code is $300, but the real cost may be the needless injury or death of a loved one.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but it's believed to be electrical. Damage has been estimated at $20,000.