Sauna Fire and Vehicle Fires Keep Firefighters Busy
SHUNIAH – It was a busy night for firefighters in Shuniah and in Pass Lake.
James Brown from Shuniah Fire and Emergency Services reports, that “Just before 8:30 pm on Monday, May 11, 2020, Shuniah Fire & Emergency Services (SFES) responded to a mutual aid request for a sauna fire on Portage Drive, in Pass Lake.
“Nineteen Shuniah firefighters responded to this mutual aid request and crews were cleared just after 10:00 pm. As we are not the lead agency on this call, we cannot provide further information on this incident.”
Before equipment refit was complete from the above call, SFES dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls for a fire in the 500 block of Lakeshore Drive at about 11:15 pm. The first arriving crews reported two sidewalk plows fully involved with fire in close proximity to vehicles, other heavy equipment, and a commercial garage.
Firefighters quickly knocked the fire down, preventing fire spread, and had it under control within 8 minutes of arriving on the scene. The fire was declared extinguished by 12:00 am.
Nineteen Shuniah firefighters and five Pass Lake firefighters responded to the second fire along with the Ontario Provincial Police and Superior North EMS. All SFES units were back in service just after 1:30 am. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation.
SFES would like to remind the public fire fatalities in the province have increased 65% compared to the same time last year, with 17 Ontarians dying in fires in March alone.
Be vigilant in preventing fires, especially now with so many people at home due to COVID-19. It is just as important to test your smoke alarms and practise your home fire escape plan.
