Fire Department uses new aerial ladder truck to help extinguish blaze

All of St. Marys’ firefighters and Fire Department vehicles were dispatched to a fire and managed to contain a blaze that destroyed a residential wood working shop early Friday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched at 11:20 p.m. on Thursday, November 7 to a structure fire at 161 King Street North and found that the two-story, wood building was "fully involved with fire" according to St. Marys Fire Chief Richard “Andy” Anderson.

"I did not know how severe it was until I crossed over the crest of Widder Street East and saw the flames shooting up in the air. I was shocked," Anderson says.

The fire spread to woodworking machinery, lumber, associated varnish and lacquers, and a 1977 pickup truck. As firefighters started battling the blaze, three separate explosions occurred from within the structure.

St. Marys firefighters used their new E-One HP 75’ Aerial Ladder truck for the first time to stream water onto the blaze from above to protect nearby houses and property, including a neighbour’s garage only three meters away.

"The fire was contained to the structure of origin," Anderson says, adding that they cleared the scene by Friday at 6:02 a.m. but returned at 9:21 a.m. to extinguish smouldering wood.

Anderson reported no injuries and that the aerial ladder truck proved itself and operated exactly as expected, allowing firefighters to safely position it on the street and extend the ladder to reach the burning structure. The cause of the fire is not suspicious in nature and is under investigation.

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Contact

Richard “Andy” Anderson | Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief
Phone: 519-274-3939 | Email: randerson@town.stmarys.on.ca