Six units were dispatched early this morning to control a fire at the vacant Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital

THUNDER BAY – August 14, 2024 – Early this morning, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue (TBFR) was called to a fire at the former Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital (LPH) on Algoma Street North. The call came in at approximately 03:11, reporting smoke in the vicinity of the vacant building.

TBFR quickly dispatched six pumpers, an aerial ladder, and a command vehicle to the scene. Upon arrival, the initial crew observed smoke emanating from the front of the structure. A second alarm was immediately issued to bring in additional resources.

Firefighters used extrication tools to cut through security screening over a ground-floor window and broke the glass to access the building.

Water was applied through the window to bring the fire under control, after which a door on the side of the building was breached to ventilate the structure and confirm that the fire was extinguished.

A thorough search of the building confirmed that no individuals were inside at the time of the fire. However, securing the structure has proven challenging, making it difficult to prevent unauthorized access and further incidents.

Thunder Bay Police are currently securing the scene, and the fire is under investigation.

TBFR urges the public to be aware of the potential hazards associated with unoccupied buildings. Parents are encouraged to remind their children of the dangers of playing in or around these structures.