Fort Erie’s firefighters have been praised for their heroic efforts in battling a massive fire that destroyed a historic former high school in the town. Fire Chief Mark Schmitt and Mayor Wayne Redekop lauded the firefighters, mostly volunteers, for working tirelessly for 16 hours to combat the persistent blaze at the former Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School. The incident has been deemed arson by the Niagara Regional Police.
The fire department reported that firefighters from all four fire stations responded to the fire around 1 a.m. on Monday at Ridge Road North. Despite challenging conditions, they managed to bring the fire under control, extinguish hot spots, and safeguard the surrounding community. Many of the exhausted volunteers either returned to their regular jobs or took personal time off to recover from the physical exertion of the response.
Fire Chief Schmitt commended the crews for their professionalism and dedication during the arduous operation. Mayor Redekop expressed gratitude to the firefighters for their unwavering commitment to ensuring the community’s safety.
The former high school holds significant historical value in the Ridgeway and Crystal Beach communities, particularly its original 1927 front exterior, recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural and architectural importance. The town revealed that demolition work had already commenced at the site before the fire. Plans were in place to preserve and integrate the facade into any future redevelopment of the property.
Despite the deteriorating condition of the building, safety remained the top priority during the firefighting operations. The town emphasized the careful preservation of the facade while ensuring the fire was completely extinguished.
A press release from the police indicated that the 5 District Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) is leading the investigation in collaboration with the Fort Erie Fire Department. Detectives have urged residents and businesses in the vicinity to review any surveillance footage and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
