November 9, 2021

ANOTHER FIRST STREET APT. FIRE TODAY LEAVES 2 FAMILIES HOMELESS IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — Another fire at a First Street apartment building late this afternoon has left three more people homeless a block from where a fatal fire in late August claimed a woman’s life.

Firefighters were once again called to the corner of Phillip Street — a few blocks from their Station 1 fire house — about 4 p.m.

None of the tenants were home, said owner Dave Cruise, whose son Bruce called 911 after a passer-by spotted flames shooting out the east side of the building.

When firefighters got there large flames had spread to the upstairs apartment on the north side as they quickly got on the rear roof and began battling smoke to pour water inside. More than a dozen firefighters were on the scene.

No one was hurt as Muskoka Paramedic Services workers stood by to assist after responding.

The only scare was a drenched skunk that startled firefighters as it waddled out from under the west side of the house and threatened to spray them back.

Cruise, 79, said there his tenants were out at the time of the fire.

He said there were two apartments, a one-bedroom on the ground and a two-bedroom above.

And as he watched firefighters wind long lines of thick orange hose around the back of his rental building next door to Cruise Automotive, he said he had only renovated the apartments about three years ago.

He previously sold a neighbouring building beside him on the main street, which is now owned by the Plumbing Brothers.

The fire follows the Aug. 31 death of Erica Curtis-Nickason, 50, who died in a multi-plex blaze one block south.

Its charred remains — still standing — could be seen through the smoke billowing from the neighbouring fire as residents nearby could only gasp at seeing another devastating fire in their midst little more than 9 weeks apart.

Police and the Fire Marshal’s office are still investigating that fire more than two months later and have not released the cause or laid any charges in what neighbours suspect may be arson.

News of the fire spread fast around town on social media and had people who live near the cursed intersection to race home to check on the damage.

A number of people watching are also just getting over a weekend clear-cut along the adjacent train tracks by CN crews who mowed down large tracts of trees encroaching the one rail line through town.

Firefighters were still on the scene till 8 p.m. with Muskoka Victim Services, who put the tenants up in emergency hotel accomodatons.