FIREFIGHTERS LAUDED FOR ‘PROFESSIONALISM’ ON TRYING DAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Fatigued Fire Chief Murray Medley says a devastating day of battling blazes across town Wednesday was made a relative success with the only significant losses being to properties.

July 17 began a 24-hour marathon for firefighters who got their first 911 call around noon at the east end of Bracebridge for a workshop fire on Fraserburg Road.

As it was coming under control, around 2 p.m. they had to race west on Beaumont Drive to the old Bangor Lodge, where huge afternoon fire engulfed the main lodge building, leaving the bare stone bones standing in the once cavernous main hall.

That fire is being investigated as being “suspicious,” says the OPP.

While firefighters were still on the scene, the worst of the fires was yet to come.

At 7:40 p.m., they were called to the north end of town, at 2152 Manitoba St,

Splinted fire crews arrived at Muskoka Timber Mills to discover a building engulfed in flames.

Due to the shortage of personnel to battle the mounting blaze the Muskoka mutual aid fire protocol was enacted, with crews from Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes and Huntsville working into the night, and through the day Thursday to control the blaze.

“Due to the nature of the business being a timber mill and the massive amount of combustible material on site, fire crews from across Muskoka were called upon to assist our team,” said Medley in a town release Friday.

“The fire was contained to the main processing building,” he said.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office was also on the scene.

Muskoka Timber Mills, founded in 1992, is still operated by its original founder, Ric Singor and his family.

The company employs 50 plus people year round.

The release says Muskoka Timber Mill is a fully-integrated facility that provides building material to the local and northern Ontario construction sector. In addition to harvesting their own trees, they also mill and process the trees (e.g. sawing, drying, moulding, millwork and prefinishing) into finished wood products.

Products produced by Muskoka Timber Mills include: siding, flooring, re-claimed barn wood, timbers, thermally modified wood, trims and much more.

In recent years, the company has invested in a 10,000 square foot state-of-the-art finishing room for their Timberthane product. Timberthane is a kiln-dried, moulded and pre-painted wood siding guaranteed to withstand the harsh Canadian climate.

Muskoka Timber Mills says it is an “environmentally-conscious company that believes in responsible forestry.”

As such, they are members of the Rainforest Alliance, Trees Ontario, and the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada.

“I’m deeply saddened by the news of this destructive fire,” said Mayor Graydon Smith. “My thoughts are with the Singor family and the many employees of Muskoka Timber Mills who are impacted by what has happened. The Town offers its full support during this difficult time,” he said.

“Also, I want to thank our dedicated firefighters who worked tirelessly to battle the blaze after what had already been a very long day. I am grateful that all the fire departments in Muskoka were able to bring additional resources to assist and I thank them as well.”

News of this nature is always devastating however the town is comforted by the fact that no one was injured or killed during this tragedy.

The town says it is also thankful to all the fire crews and their efforts to contain this fire and preventing a total loss of the business.

The town says it hopes the Singor family will be able to rebuild and resume their prominence in the Bracebridge business community.

“The dedication and professionalism shown by members of the Bracebridge Fire Department is greatly appreciated by the community,” said the town release.

MPP Norm Miller added his appreciation earlier, Thursday.

“I wish to thank all the firefighters and first responders who attended and fought the two major fires in Bracebridge yesterday. With the fire danger rating at high right now, it is only due to the hard work of our firefighters that neither fire spread causing a wildfire.

“I also want to thank the Town of Gravenhurst and the Township of Muskoka Lakes for sending their firefighters and equipment to help battle the blaze at Muskoka Timber Mills.

“We can only hope that all our volunteer firefighters are not called upon again for a few days so they are able to rest and recover.

“Please be reminded that with the fire danger rating at high, no daytime burning is allowed in Muskoka right now.”