A drive shed/barn-type building on Telephone Road in Brighton was engulfed in flames Monday, but with a quick attack by firefighters, they knocked down the blaze within the hour and saved a nearby century-old barn.
“When the crews arrived (on the scene), it was fully involved,” said Brighton Fire Department Chief Gene Thompson, who commended firefighters and a team of first responders for an “outstanding” job while tackling “tremendous heat” from the blaze.
Crews responded to the call of a fully-involved structure fire on Telephone Road between County Road 30 and Waites Road at around 8:30 a.m. Monday.
There were “exposures,” including a big nearby barn, noted Thompson.
“It was right next to a large barn — a cattle barn — and the guys were able to save that barn, which was outstanding.”
“They probably had it knocked down within the hour, for sure … (and) they saved that big barn (which is) probably 100 years old or more. When we got there, the whole end of it was on fire, and (crews) knocked it down quick and saved the exposures (is what we call it.)”
“But there was a lot of heat — like there was damage to a couple of trailers they had around there, and they probably had half-a-dozen cars that had stuff melted on them, like their fenders and stuff (was) melted, and it was a tremendous amount of heat.”
While the fire was soon under control, crews remained on the scene for some time.
Cramahe and Trent Hills also answered the call for help with tanker support. Northumberland Paramedics and Northumberland OPP also responded to the call.
Police helped with the road closure, and paramedics assessed two people, said Thompson. While giving incredible thanks to Northumberland first responders for their help, Thompson also described their efforts as amazing.
The drive-shed building, described like a “50-by-50’” barn, had been converted into a garage and work-type space with a loft (still privately owned and not commercial) and had some cars parked inside, explained Thompson.
The cause of the fire is undetermined, but it is not suspicious, said Thompson.
The fire caused an estimated half-a-million dollars in damages, said Thompson.
The blaze also prompted a temporary emergency closure of a portion of Telephone Road until around 1 p.m. Monday. The road reopened around that time.
“Thank you to everyone for their patience and co-operation,” said the municipality as the road reopened.
Motorists in the area earlier were being diverted through County Road 21 and Waites Road.
“My crews did a great job (and there were) no injuries,” said Thompson.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
