THUNDER BAY – Firefighters remained on the site of a large Monday night fire at the former Great West Timber site Tuesday afternoon, tamping down hot spots and continuing an investigation.
The fire all but destroyed a roughly 300-foot building on the abandoned sawmill site, producing dramatic fireballs and huge plumes of smoke along the waterfront Monday.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue crews were able to prevent further spread of the fire, aided by low winds, said deputy fire chief David Paxton.
All told, six pumpers and two aerial ladders helped battle the blaze after TBFR responded to reports of the fire around 7:20 p.m.
The setting caused challenges for firefighters, given the presence of materials like sawdust, grease and oil, and potentially abandoned lumber and propane.
“I wouldn’t call any of the explosions significant, but there were ruptures throughout the night,” said Paxton. “In an industrial setting like this, there’s lots of bearings and pistons that heat up and release throughout the evening.”
Uncertainty over the materials present on site led responders to create a wide perimeter to keep back a large number of people who came to observe the fire at Marina Park and nearby streets.
There were no reports of anyone inside of the building at the time, Paxton said. Ambulances were on standby at the scene, but Superior North EMS reported no injuries.
Paxton expected fire crews would be on site most of the day Tuesday, pouring water on remaining hot spots and investigating the cause of the fire.
The TBFR has been in communication with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, Paxton said.
A spokesperson for the OFM could not immediately confirm whether the office would conduct its own investigation.
Paxton said there was no indication yet of what caused the fire.
“It’s too early to tell at this point, but we’ll be looking at all the options,” he said.
Fires can break out in abandoned buildings due to causes like weather events, hydro connections, squatters, and vandalism, he said.
