Fire destroys Jones Baseline garage/shop
WELLINGTON NORTH - Winter weather and icy road conditions on Saturday created challenges for firefighters trying to prevent a garage/shop fire from spreading.
On Feb. 2 at around 3:40pm Wellington North firefighters responded to a structure fire on Jones Baseline, about halfway between Arthur and Fergus.
Wellington North Fire Chief Dave Guilbault said the garage/shop, which measures about 25-by-50 feet, was “fully involved” with fire and heavy smoke when crews arrived.
Roughly 30 firefighters, from Arthur, Mount Forest, Centre Wellington and Mapleton, worked to ensure the fire did not spread to an attached storage shed containing hazardous chemicals.
Other challenges, said Guilbault, included icy roads and no water source, which resulted in numerous tanker runs to Arthur. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 7pm.
Guilbault noted there were no injuries to civilians, firefighters or animals. He estimated the damage at about $75,000 and said the cause of the blaze “is undetermined - not considered suspicious.”
Guilbault said the incident marked the fourth fire in the past month along the same stretch of Jones Baseline.
