Arson Suspected In Canoe Lake Road Fires

Nov 20, 2024

OPP are investigating after South Frontenac Fire and Rescue attended the fifth and sixth suspicious wildfire of the year in the 9000 block of Canoe Lake Road, South Frontenac, earlier this month.

At approximately 4:45 in the evening of November 5, 2024, seven South Frontenac fire stations were dispatched to attend the scene of a wildland fire on Canoe Lake Road. According to Del Blakney, director of Emergency Services and Chief of South Frontenac Fire and Resue, the blaze was rapidly spreading when the crew arrived on the scene. The fire, which spread across 30 acres ((12 hectares), took 15 fire trucks, 10 support vehicles, 7500 feet of fire hose, support from Rideau Lakes Fire and Rescue and many hours of exhaustive firefighting operations over difficult terrain to be extinguished.

Firefighters fought the blaze for three days to protect several residential properties. Five residential properties were evacuated for the first night with their pets due to the proximity to smoke.

Because this fire was suspicious in nature (meaning it is suspected that someone started this fire), the Ontario Provincial Police were called to attend.

On November 8th, within an hour of getting the fire from November 5th under control, SFFR was dispatched again to another wildland fire in the same area. The crew got this fire under control within an hour. However, since this was the sixth fire of a suspicious nature in this area since April, both OPP and South Frontenac Fire and Rescue are strongly encouraging anyone who may have information on the individual who may have started these fires to contact the Frontenac Detachment of the OPP.

The total cost of fighting these fires is anticipated to be several thousands of dollars.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the firefighters who fought this fire, the families who lost time with their firefighter for several days, employers who released part-time firefighters to assist their community, Rideau Lake Fire & Rescue for their assistance, Kingston Fire & Rescue Communication Technicians for their tireless efforts to support SFFR, and the OPP for their ongoing dedication in finding the individual(s) responsible for these selfish, criminal acts.” said Blakney in an email to the News.

He also encourages rural residents to visit Fire Smart’s website for information on how to protect their homes and cottages from wildfires.