Latest news with #CentralElginFire
CTV News
12 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Multiple fire crews battle roof and solar panel blaze in West Lorne, Ont.
The black smoke from a storage facility fire in West Lorne, Ont. could be seen for kilometres. West Elgin Fire Department responded to a blaze at 215 Gilbert St. Saturday after multiple 911 calls. 'There was smoke and flames showing from the rooftop at the building behind us,' said Jeff MacArthur, chief of the West Elgin Fire Department. 'We also requested Dutton/Dunwich for mutual aid and also Central Elgin Fire.' The building is a storage facility called SimTech Supply Chain Management. WEST LORNE FIRE Black smoke filled the air in West Elgin after the roof and solar panels at a storage facility caught fire on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Source: Ryan Minogue) Fire crews set up hoses around the perimeter of the building spraying water up onto the roof. Central Elgin Fire had its aerial ladder truck and was putting water on from above. 'We were quickly able to knock down the flames with water suppression,' said MacArthur. 'We secured water supply. We have hydrants right on scene here, so thankfully, the fire was brought under control on the rooftop quite quickly.' WEST LORNE FIRE West Elgin Fire Department set up hoses around the perimeter of a building at 215 Gilbert St. in West Lorne, Ont. and sprayed to battle a roof and solar panel fire on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Fire crews worked with the property owner to determine what contents were inside the facility. They also had Enbridge and Hydro One crews on scene to isolate the electrical power and the rest of the utilities. There were no injuries. Fire later determined the fire involved the roof structure and solar panels on the roof. None of the building's contents were involved in the fire and crews will be back on scene Sunday to continue the investigation.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Days after multiple drownings in region, lifeguards now on duty in Port Stanley, Ont.
As lifeguards were training on the beach for the upcoming season last week, they were called into action to save two children while drowning. 'They were taking in a lot of water, but lifeguards were doing some training and they went in and they got them to safety,' Murray Decorte, district chief of Central Elgin Fire and Rescue told CTV News on June 22. 'Along with fire, they got them out and got them into EMS' hands and taking both to hospital.' A week later, the Municipality of Central Elgin announced its lifeguards are now on duty for the summer. They will supervise designated swim areas at Main Beach in Port Stanley - Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. PORT STANLEY LIFEGUARDS Lifeguards are now on duty at Main Beach in Port Stanley, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'Our beaches are a treasured part of summer in Central Elgin, and we're pleased to welcome back our dedicated team of lifeguards for the summer season,' said Mayor Andrew Sloan in a news release. 'We urge all residents and visitors to respect the safety guidelines, swim within the designated areas, and look out for one another while making great memories at our beautiful waterfront this summer.' There are no lifeguards on duty at Erie Rest, Little Beach, or Pumphouse Beach. However, lifesaving equipment, such as ring buoys and reaching poles, is available at those locations. For those unfamiliar with swimming conditions, lifeguards use a flag system to identify whether there are unusual hazards. Those range from Green (good conditions) to Double Red (No swimming permitted). PORT STANLEY LIFEGUARDS Lifeguard Nathan MacIntyre has created an information project on the dangers of rip currents in the Great Lakes. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Central Elgin is also asking beach goers to learn about rip currents, which can often push swimmers away from shore. CTV News spoke with Lifeguard Nathan MacIntyre this week about the dangers of rip currents, which can occur suddenly in the Great Lakes. 'Anything up to your belly button level, you are at risk of being taken by the lake,' said MacIntyre. 'When people struggle, they want to swim right back to shore immediately, where they know it's safe and they're swimming against the current. Some of the best advice could be counterintuitive, which is relax, flip, float, follow. Flip onto your back, float, conserve your energy because you're going to need your energy. Allow the current just to take you. If you're floating, you don't have to worry about going under the water and try to find a safe space to get out when you can.'
