Fire Destroys Canadian Tire Warehouse, Lindsay

Originally Published in the Peterborough Examiner, June 8, 1977

Twenty-five firemen from the Lindsay Fire Department battled a blaze in a Canadian Tire warehouse for over an hour this morning. The warehouse, on Durham Street W. in Lindsay was completely destroyed by the fire which began in the south east corner of the building. Another warehouse, adjacent to the fire was salvaged from the flames by firefighters.

Canadian Tire Corporation Store Manager Cecil Carr, said he was thankful only in the rear was destroyed. “We had only a few cartons stored in there,” he said. “If the other one had caught, the tires and everything in it would have gone up like nothing.”

Lindsay Fire Chief, Arnold Watson, said it was too early to tell what had started the fire. “We’ll know sometime this afternoon I hope,” he said at the scene.

Chief Watson said that two firemen had been injured fighting the blaze. They were treated for minor burns at Ross Memorial Hospital and were released.

The alarm was given at 12:44 am fireman had the flames under control by 2 am.

The door to the neighbouring warehouse was broken down by firefighters in an effort to save the building. Fire Chief Watson said it was the brick wall separating the two buildings that prevented the fire from spreading. The destroyed warehouse was constructed almost entirely of wood.

Early reports said the warehouse contained items on storage from Sir Sandford Fleming College and Canadian Tire Corporation.

Firemen said they would be at the scene until sunrise dousing down the smoldering ruins.

Chief Watson said he would hesitate about estimating the cost of the blaze, but said that it “would be dependent on the cost of replacing the warehouse facility.” The items inside were not of great value he said.”