Results for ‘Fires’
[Welland Tribune, 1903]
A serious looking blaze broke out in the roof of the pattern warerooms at Messrs. M. Beatty and Sons’ iron works yesterday at 11 a.m. The pattern building is a two-storey frame structure just behind the blacksmith shop, and there is never any fire inside. About the time mentioned, one of the men noticed flames coming through the end of the building, and he quickly gave the alarm. The men about the shop soon had the hose cart, which is stored in another building out and a line of hose attached. In the meantime a general alarm had been given and the other hose carts from the first and third wards were soon on hand, with lots of willing workers. A gale of wind was blowing, and as the building contained very inflammable material and had a good start, it was generally thought it would turn out to be a serious one. But the quick action and good work of the men on the spot soon had the fire under control, although the flames under the shingles were stubborn for a time. The contents of the building, being all wooden patterns, were very valuable, and a number of these in the top floor were burned and some damaged by water. The loss is not heavy considering the value of the material amongst which the flames were, and it is covered by insurance. The cause of the fire is unknown.
John E. Cutler’s House Partially Burned
COUNTY CLERK COOPER SERIOUSLY INJURED
[Welland Tribune, 28 October 1892]
About seven o’clock on Tuesday evening John E. Cutler’s residence, ,corner Merritt and Shotwell streets, caught fire in the storage room, or garret, above the kitchen, and was damaged to the extent of three or four hundred dollars. The fire is supposed to have caught from the stove-pipe that passed through this attic room.
Mr. Cutler’s family were at tea at the time and the first intimation they had of the danger was the boisterous shouting of some boys outside. Mr. Cutler arose and opened the door. By this time the flames had burst through the roof, and the bright light warned him that the house was on fire. He ran to the barn for his garden hose, only to find that it had been lately put away for the winter in the very attic that was burning.
Neighbors were now on hand and the fire was vigorously attacked by the pail brigade, but the flames were too fierce for this to have much effect and had to be abandoned. In the meantime the contents of the house were being removed to adjoining house.
In quick time the hose cart No.2 was on the scene and water playing upon the fire. No. 1 cart followed, and it looked as if the fire would be soon under control.
Finally the water struck the root of the trouble, and almost instantly the fire was extinguished and the best part of the house saved. Had it been necessary to rely upon the firing up and getting there of the old fire engine, the house would have been burned to the ground.
The premises are insured sufficiently to cover all losses, and of course the place will be repaired at once.
During the progress of the fire County Clerk Cooper met with what may prove a very serious accident. The water had been shut off and the nozzle was lying on the floor, when all at once the water was turned on and the stream struck Mr. Cooper in the face with terrific force. The right eye-lid was badly bruised and the eye badly injured. Mr. Cooper was almost blinded and had to be assisted home. The physician could give no decided opinion at first, but expressed grave fears that the sight of the right eye might be permanently impaired.
[Welland Tribune, 30 July 1897]
At 5.30 o’clock (yesterday) Thursday morning fire broke out in the John Roger’s barn, just in the rear of his house, on East Main street. The garden hose was put on and did good service in keeping the fire from spreading until the hose carts arrived, when the flames were at once subdued, but not until the building, which was a small frame one, was practically destroyed. All the contents, except about a ton of hay were saved. The horse, buggy, cutter, harness, bag of oats and other things were taken out. The fire started in the mow and must have been caused by tramps who probably slept there. The building was insured for $50; loss about $100.
FARMHOUSE TWO MILES NORTH OF FONTHILL BURNED TO THE GROUND
[Welland Tribune, 24 February 1940]
Fonthill, Feb. 24-Believed to have been caused by a defective or overheated chimney the farm home of Alfred Misener, two miles north of Fonthill was burned to the ground on Friday afternoon. The loss was estimated at $2,500 partly insured.
The Fonthill fire brigade answered the alarm, but the blaze had gained considerable headway before their arrival, and without water the firemen were unable to render a great deal of assistance.
The blaze was discovered by a member of the family and the furniture in the lower part of the house was saved.
[Welland Tribune, 17 July 1885]
Fire-On Tuesday afternoon about five o’clock, Henry Cronmiller’s hotel. East of Air Line Junction, this township, was entirely destroyed by fire together with all contents. Mr. Cronmiller and Mr. Caleb Doan were at the hotel at the time. Smoke was seen issuing from the closet or wash room,__be confronted by the flames which had already gained considerable headway. They made a hard fight to subdue the fire, but the building was frame and burned quickly and soon was a total wreck. In an attempt to save the building, the furniture etc., was not removed, and the entire contents were consumed, involving a loss to probably over $2,000 besides some money and notes. No insurance.
MANY FIRES
[Welland Tribune, 22 October 1897]
Pelham seems to be having its share of fires just now:
A few weeks ago a small but not valuable tenant dwelling at Ridgeville, the property of George Townsend, was burned (uninsured), the tenant, Mr. Wellington, a poor man, losing considerable of his effects.
Then followed the W. J. Dougherty loss at Fonthill which has been already reported.
Thursday evening (Oct. 14) it seemed to be Fenwick’s turn for a misfortune, for that evening the sawmill there of Wm. J. Jennings, with its entire contents, went up in smoke. No insurance. Mr. Jennings places his loss at from $1500 to $2000. Besides the mill and machinery several thousand feet of lumber were burned.
Then, on Sunday afternoon last, the cry of fire was again heard in Ridgeville. This time the loss fell to Amos Roswell Dochstader, formerly the Robert Holditch homestead. The dwelling, which was one of the oldest landmarks of the locality, and which 30 or 40 years ago was widely known as Holdith’s Inn, and all the outbuildings –woodshed, two barns, stables and sheds, were totally consumed. When discovered the fire had had a defiant hold between the upper ceiling and the roof about one of the chimneys, and it is probable that the cause of fire may be traced to a defect in the chimney, which was very old, Mr. and Mrs. Holditch having themselves occupied the dwelling more than 50 years. About all the contents of the dwelling and outbuildings were saved except hay and feed. The loss will easily reach $1000, and it is said there is an insurance in the London Mutual of $800. The Tunnacliffe buildings immediately opposite were in great danger, and were on fire several times, but the vigilant work of the villagers saved them as well as Mrs. Ward’s dwelling and Brown’s blacksmith shop, which also were ignited.
Again on Monday night or early Tuesday morning of this week, Dr. Barker of Fenwick in making a midnight professional visit saw the barn of Benson Farr, Cream street, who lives 1 mile east of Fenwick, all ablaze. Quickly rousing Mr. Farr and his family from their slumbers, the doctor rushed to the burning building, but was unable to enter it, though he did succeed in liberating Mr. Farr’s cattle, which were in an enclosure adjoining the barn. Nothing whatever was saved from the barn and the loss covers, besides all Mr. Farr’s vehicles, implements, carpenter tools, produce & c., his horse and two nice porkers. There is an insurance in the Bertie & Willoughby Farmers Mutual, but it will only partially meet the loss. The cause of the fire is a mystery. At 7 o’clock Mr. Farr himself locked up the barn for the night; two or three hours after, some of his neighbors returning from church services at Fenwick saw the barn door open and a light within, but the fire did not break out till after midnight.
Serious Time for Lack of Water
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Niagara Falls, Ont., Jan.17-Fire almost destroyed two residences here this morning and great difficulty was experienced in putting out the flames owing to the lack of water. Fire commenced in the house of Mr. Dobran and spread to the Sheppard residence next door. The fire was caused by Dobran applying a lighted torch to the water pipes, thinking they were frozen. Owing to the quantity of ice in the river there has been no water supply in this city from 7 o’clock last night to 12 o’clock today. The firemen fought the flames with pails of snow, and water was procured from a creek nearby by cutting through the ice with hatchets. Eventually the fire engine was sent up to the creek and the hose inserted under the ice and suction applied. The two houses were destroyed. The damage is estimated at $4,000.
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1909]
Wellandport, Jan 7-Walter Wilson, who resides ¾ mile north of Wellandport, had the misfortune, at eleven o’clock this morning to have his barn and shed burned.
The barn was valued at $1,000-contents valued from $600 to $700. All the livestock was saved, but considerable damage was done to the grain, hay and seed. Loss estimated at from $1600 to $1700, only partially covered by insurance.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
By Mike Zettel
[Niagara this Week, 23 June 2011]
City firefighters are being commended for the more than 40 hours they spent battling a blaze early Saturday at the former Welland High School on West Main Street.
Police along with the Ontario Fire Marshal, are investigating the blaze and are asking anyone who took pictures or video in the area between the hours of 3:50 and 5 a.m. to submit them, as they could help in the investigation.
At around 3:50 a.m., fire, police and emergency medical officials arrived, finding the building engulfed n flames.
The neighbourhood around the school at 200 West Main St., was still filled with heavy smoke several hours after a fire broke out.
About 15 Welland homes were evacuated as a safety precaution and allowed to return to their homes later in the day.
In total, about 40 fire fighters and at one point every fire truck in Welland were on the scene where emergency workers worked over 40 hours to completely extinguish the blaze.
Welland fire chief Denys Prevost explained the blaze posed some difficulty because, with 12 buildings on the property, gaining access to the burning portions was at times difficult. Prevost pointed out that with cold air moving in, the billowing smoke hung low, flooding the area.
He noted luckily no one was inside the structure, as the buildings would have been quite dangerous for fire personal to enter.
“The guys were running strong all night until that call came in,” said Provost, commending his staff for battling the blaze during an already busy night.
The high school was unused for many years, and had become something of an eyesore, said Welland resident Julie James.
“I just feel so sad,” she said. “My mom went here. My husband went here. First, it sat empty all those years and turned into an eyesore and now this.”
There were no reports of injuries.
West Main Street between Niagara Street and Prince Charles Drive was closed for the weekend, and people had been asked to avoid the area. Sunday’s Rose Parade was rerouted due to the closure.
A demolition company was called in to help fight the fire and Pinchin Environment was brought on scene Saturday to monitor air quality in the area.
“Thousands of residents were affected emotionally,” said Mayor Barry Sharpe during Tuesday’s council meeting. Sharpe commended fire staff for their efforts in battling the blaze and noted that the building will likely have to be completely demolished.
“I do share with many residents a sense of loss,” he added.
Also, the firm Pinchin Environmental has been contacted and was brought on scene Saturday to monitor air quality in the area. City officials are also monitoring water quality, as well. Fire crews were still on site Sunday resulting in a small detour of the Rose Festival Grand Parade found as portion of West Main Street was closed until Monday.
Whenever there’s a particularly high volume of water used, and the water supply is being pulled in a direction it doesn’t normally flow, there’s a possibility of disruption of sediment in the system.
Any residents who experience discoloration in their water are advised to call public works and ask for the Water Quality Division to have someone come out to test the water.
[July 15, 2021]
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Constructed in 1855, the Welland House Hotel was well-known for its natural salt spring waters and exclusive clientele. It was destroyed by fire on Monday July 15, 2021 cause as yet unknown. |
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