No injuries were reported but up to 30 tenants have been displaced after a fire tore through an apartment building in the village of Bobcaygeon, Ont., in the City of Kawartha Lakes on Thursday afternoon.
Around 3:30 p.m.., Kawartha Lakes Fire and Rescue crews responded to the fire at the building at the corner of Main and Prince streets. District fire chief Dave Kish says additional crews were required to help fight the fire which spread through multiple units.
Fire crews battled the blaze overnight. Two fire crews remain on scene on Friday morning.
Kish tells Global News the cause of the fire was accidental, originating on the second floor before spreading to the attic. As crews were fighting the fire, Kish says the roof became compromised and began to collapse.
“The building is a total write off,” he said.
Kish wouldn’t say what caused the fire, however, a resident living on the first floor says a barbecue unit is to blame.
City of Kawartha Lakes Ward 2 Coun. Pat Warren on Friday morning stated 30 people from 16 apartment units were impacted by the fire.
Staff from Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Victim Services and the Red Cross are helping those displaced.
Warren said she was helping set up a committee to oversee donations and establish a bank account to receive donations.
Bobcaygeon Helps, a non-profit corporation that operates the Bobcaygeon Food Bank, said its food bank will open at 9 a.m. Friday for those who need supplies.
Clothing donations are being accepted at the Knox Church and donations are also being accepted at the Lions Hall at 55 Main St.
Donations are also being accepted by the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes.
On Friday afternoon, fire chief Terry Jones says the Office of the Fire Marshal has been notified as the damage will be “several million dollars.” Jones says the fire is not deemed suspicious.
more to come
— with files from Robert Lothian/Global News Peterborough
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