Charred remains are all that’s left of Portland Fire Hall Number 2.
The small, lake-side community is without a community fire hall after theirs burned to the ground Tuesday evening.
“To have this loss come in the holiday season just weeks after another tragic fire within our community, it was really tough for the membership,” said Rideau Lakes fire Chief Scott Granahan.
Viewer video shows the fire station, off Highway 15, completely engulfed in flames.
According to officials, the first call came in to 911 around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to report the blaze.
Fire stations from five neighbouring communities rushed to the aid of their colleagues.
“They rallied, they did a great job last night and they’re continuing to work hard today,” Granahan stated.
No one was hurt in the fire, however the siding on a neighbouring house was damaged and everything in the building was destroyed.
Damage to just the three vehicles inside the fire hall is estimated at $1.5 million.
“We have a pumper, a tanker and a rescue vehicle, all from 2009, that were destroyed — so reasonably good equipment,” said the mayor of Rideau Lakes, Arie Hoogenboom.
“This is a significant loss for us, including the building and all the equipment that’s on it.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown for now as the Ontario fire marshal investigates.
“I don’t want to speculate,” said the fire chief.
“It’s their profession and their expertise that will bring us closer to or help us figure out the actual cause of the fire.”
Hoogenboom says the township will be working with insurance to try to cover the multi-million-dollar loss while an action plan is put in place to cover any calls to fight fires in the area.
Gananoque has already loaned a pumper truck to help.
“There is absolutely no loss of coverage right now,” said Granahan.
“We have mutual aid from our neighbouring townships as well as in Lanark, Smiths Falls will be covering the north end for us and on the other side we have South Frontenac as well.”
Finding a temporary location for the borrowed equipment and 26 members of the Portland Fire Hall is the next challenge until a permanent replacement for Fire Hall Number 2 is found.
The facility is used by volunteer firefighters in the area and without their equipment, they were forced to wait for other departments to arrive at the scene, including some from Smiths Falls.