Fort Erie’s firefighters are being hailed as heroes for dedicating the equivalent of two standard workdays to extinguish a massive fire that ravaged a historic former high school in the town. Fire Chief Mark Schmitt and Mayor Wayne Redekop commended the firefighters, mostly volunteers, for their relentless 16-hour effort to combat the stubborn blaze at the former Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School. The Niagara Regional Police have categorized the incident as arson.
Responding to the fire on Ridge Road North around 1 a.m. on Monday, firefighters from all four fire stations worked diligently under challenging circumstances to control the fire, eliminate hot spots, and safeguard the nearby community, as stated by the town. Following the physically demanding response, many exhausted volunteers either resumed their regular jobs or took personal time to recuperate.
In a town news release on Tuesday, Fire Chief Schmitt expressed his pride in the professionalism displayed by the crews throughout the response, emphasizing their dedication and hard work. Mayor Redekop also extended gratitude to the firefighters for their tireless efforts in ensuring community safety, highlighting their ongoing commitment to Fort Erie.
The empty former high school holds a significant historical presence in the Ridgeway and Crystal Beach communities, with the original 1927 front exterior recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural and historical value. The town revealed that demolition activities were already in progress before the fire, with plans in place to preserve and integrate the facade into any future redevelopment of the property.
Despite the deteriorating state of the building, safety remained paramount during the firefighting operations, as noted by the town. The police press release stated that the 5 District Criminal Investigative Branch is leading the investigation in collaboration with the Fort Erie Fire Department. Residents and businesses in the vicinity are urged to review surveillance footage and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.