Orillia’s mayor is vowing community support for those affected by Tuesday morning’s fire downtown.
“This morning’s fire in our historic downtown is devastating for area residents and businesses,” Mayor Don McIsaac said in a news release. “The buildings in this area are more than a century old and hold special significance for our city as homes and workplaces.”
He described Orillia as “a strong and resilient community,” adding, “Together, we will support those impacted. My deepest thanks go out to the Orillia Fire Department and our mutual-aid partners for their quick response and dedication in managing this difficult situation.”
Fire Chief Chris Ferry noted many of the buildings in the area are more than 100 years old, which poses “unique challenges due to their age and proximity to one another.”
“On behalf of the Orillia Fire Department, I extend my deepest thanks to all first responders and mutual-aid partners for their incredible teamwork during this emergency.”
Assisting the Orillia Fire Department were firefighters from Rama, Ramara, Oro-Medonte and Severn.
The block surrounding Mississaga and Peter streets remains closed, and power has been turned off in the area. The city continues to ask residents in the area to stay inside with their windows closed.
Orillia Transit has been rerouted, with the city noting the Laclie route bus has two stops out of service (Peter and Mississaga streets, and Coldwater and Matchedash streets), while the South route bus has one stop out of service (Elgin and West streets).
No injuries have been reported, and the city says it is too early to determine the cause of the fire or the estimated damage. The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate.
“Crews are currently monitoring for hotspots and flare-ups in the building and that is anticipated to take place for the rest of the day,” the city said in a release.
The city has made buses available as temporary shelters for residents and emergency crews to keep warm. The Salvation Army is providing additional support on site.
As well, the Orillia Opera House and several nearby businesses have opened their doors as warming centres for first responders and those impacted by the fire.
“What we've decided to do today is close our dining room for service but open it to any first responders or displaced people that are in downtown businesses as a warming centre,” said Eclectic Cafe owner Melanie Robinson.
She said the dining room will be closed for business until later today, instead opening as a warming centre offering free coffee, tea and food to impacted community members.
“Basically, it's whatever we can do as a community to come together and help people in need,” she said.
Stefany Schmidt, manager at Fabstyle Hair Design, said the salon is working with Eclectic Cafe to offer additional space for those affected to get out of the cold.
“We’re offering coffee and just a place for people to come warm up or sit or hang out,” Schmidt said.
With limited seating at Eclectic Cafe, the opera house is also opening its doors.
“Because she has limited seating, we have extra washrooms here for first responders and for people displaced, so they may need the washroom or a place just to sit and get warmed up and have a coffee,” said opera house theatre manager Emily Martin.
Martin said the opera house is setting up chairs in its green room for community members, who can come in “any time today.”
“We have lots of washrooms here, so whatever we can do to help,” she said.
-with files from Greg McGrath-Goudie
