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UPDATE: Large Barn Fire In Dryden Area

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There are no reported injuries following a large barn fire on Highway 17 around 10:40pm last night.

Firefighters with Dryden Fire, Oxdrift Fire and Wabigoon Fire as well as emergency responders attended the blaze.

Officials say when they arrived the barn was already fully engulfed.

Crews were able to quickly protect a nearby house as well as knockdown multiple grass fires caused by heat from the barn.

Traffic control was in place until roughly 3 o’clock this morning and crews were on the scene until around 3:30am.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but it is not suspicious.

(Photo Credit: Wabigoon Fire)

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Arson Not Suspected In Bearskin Lake Fire

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Nishnawbe Aski Police say arson isn’t suspected in the Sunday fire that destroyed their detachment in Bearskin Lake First Nation.

Police say the cause remains unknown and the investigation is on-going.

There were no reported injuries and there were no people in custody at the time of the blaze.

Meantime, Police say “the current realities with regard to limited resources due to the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus will affect any estimations on the completion of both the investigation and the opening date of the new detachment that is currently under construction.”

People who need the police in Bearskin Lake First Nation may call cellular number 807-633-4936 for assistance.

Local community members may also approach the police for assistance.

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Fire Destroys Police Station In Bearskin Lake

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No one was injured in a devastating fire in Bearskin Lake First Nation over the weekend.

The blaze destroyed the Nishnawbe Aski Nation police station.

NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says the detachment was one of the oldest in NAN territory.

Fiddler adds a new station is currently being built and without any delays construction should be completed in two months.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Photo Credit: Gary Kam)

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NDP Call For Ford To Axe Lecce

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The Ontario NDP wants Premier Doug Ford to fire Stephen Lecce.

Opposition Leader Andrea Howath has started an online petition for the Education Minister’s removal.

Horwath says that Lecce has poisoned the relationship with the teachers and the unions at the bargaining table.

The call to replace the Education Minister comes as local students are in the middle of three days of walk-outs by local teachers after negotiations broke off between the two sides.

Horwath adds that Premier Ford is the only person that can end the strikes, and that he can hit the re-set button by firing Lecce.

The petition can be found here.

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No Timetable For Clarion Re-Opening

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Don’t expect to book any rooms at the Clarion Lakeside Inn in Kenora anytime soon.

In a Facebook post, management say it could be a couple of months before the hotel is re-opened.

Most of the Clarion suffered smoke and water damage from a fire that took place last Friday afternoon.

Kenora Fire Chief Todd Skene says the blaze started underneath the hotel and a car on top of the parkade went up in flames.

Fortunately no one was hurt.

https://www.facebook.com/ClarionLakesideInn/posts/2621085647940986

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Winnipeg Fullback Saves Grey Cup

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The Grey Cup was inside the Clarion Lakeside Inn when a fire broke out Friday afternoon in Kenora, but was saved thanks to the quick actions of Winnipeg Blue Bombers fullback John Rush and the team travelling with the CFL’s top prize.

When the blaze broke out around 3:30pm, Rush and the staff were in the hotel lounge.

Rush says they quickly ran to the room where the trophy was being stored and retrieved it, then ran back down the stairs and outside to safety.

The truck that the Bombers entourage had traveled to Kenora in, along with a trailer full of Blue Bombers swag, wasn’t so lucky as it was parked next to one of the vehicles that was on fire.

The trailer full of merchandise was lost.

(Darren Ainsworth/Facebook)

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Clarion Fire Still Under Investigation

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It’s still too early to know what caused Friday’s fire at the Clarion Lakeside Inn in Kenora.

That’s the message coming from Fire Chief Todd Skene.

Skene says the afternoon blaze was officially declared out just before 9:00 that night.

He says everyone in the hotel escaped unharmed.

Skene says the fire started underneath the hotel parking lot, and they were able to contain it to that area of the building.

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Fire Closes The Clarion Lakeside Inn

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Fire at the Clarion Lakeside Inn started in the basement area.

That’s according the eyewitnesses, who say flames from the blaze were able to catch a couple of vehicles in the parking lot area on fire as well.

The fire broke out around 3:30, but at this point, it’s not known if anyone was hurt.

High winds drove heavy black smoke over the lake and into the downtown area.

OPP have the Safeway Bridge and 1st Avenue in the area blocked off.

The Kenora Fire and Emergency Services Department has a number of its vehicles deployed to order to put the flames out.

(new video of fire scene courtesy Ariel Hunter)

https://www.facebook.com/d.seemore/videos/10162953391805370/

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Major Improvements For Wabigoon Fire Department

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After years of hard work and determination, the Wabigoon Fire Department has secured a brand new 2020 full cab pumper.

The vehicle will strengthen the ability of volunteer firefighters to provide mutual aid across the area.

Fire Prevention Officer Richard Wetelainen says that’s not their only new addition.

He says they also purchased a virtually new tanker truck.

Wetelainen it’s absolutely critical that the infrastructure is in place to support each another.

He notes “Wabigoon over the last 10 to 15 years. Our equipment was getting so dated that we really weren’t effective in being able to contribute what we should be. That whole thing has changed.”

Wetelainen now calls the Wabigoon fleet “second to none.”

He adds “This equipment is shared with mutual aid through Dryden, Wabigoon, Oxdrift and the entire area. So having this in Wabigoon is critical for everyone and it’s especially critical for us.”

Wetelainen says they have been working for two years on a plan to upgrade their fire service.

Wetelainen stresses Chief Allan Williams was instrumental in helping the department secure the vehicles.

To hear more from Richard Wetelainen, visit the Audio link below.

(Picture/Video: Wabigoon Fire Department Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/wabigoonfire/videos/457040305195110/

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No Injuries In Kenora House Fire

Firefighters in Kenora have been busy this morning with a fire near Darlington Drive.

They were called earlier today to a home on Pinewood Road.

They aren’t reporting any injuries, and are still determining the cause of the blaze.

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