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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-06-02, Page 1T PUBLISHED, IN LUCKNOW, ONTARIO Wednesday, June 2, 1993 550 Q.S.T. Included Fire destroys Lucknow Feed Mill Over $1 million damage by Pat Livingston A weekend fire caused in excess of $1 million in damages to the Lucknow Feed Mill, on Campbell Street East. The Lucknow and District Fire Department responded to the alarm at approximately 1:15 a.m. on May 29. Chief Peter Steer said the rear east side of the main structure was in flames with the fire venting out the doors and windows. An initial attack was made by the department, however mutual aid was quickly activated when it was discovered the whole main east side was engulfed. Ripley and Teeswater Fire Departments arrived on the scene bringing five men each: Chief Steer said Ripley fought the main structure fire, while Teeswater protected the perimeter to the east. He said three lines were concentrated on 'the Leonard and Bernadean Ritchie home, located approximately 100 feet to the east of the mill. At one point during the early morning blaze the home of Floyd Milne was watered down as well. Chief Steer said that approximately 300,000 gallons of water were pumped throughthe department's new pumper truck that arrived in late February. He said it was due to the monitor on top of the pumper they were' able to save the tower structure. Water lines were hooked up to the hydrants. east and west of the mill and water was also drawn from the creek beside the mill. The sky, over the village was. aglow with flames leaping as high as 40 feet above the steel granaries. Huge embers floated in the sky carried by the strong south-easterly winds. The Ontario Fire Marshall's office was notified at approximately 2:30 a.m. This is a normal procedure with a fine of this magnitude, said the fire chief. The Ontario Provincial Police (Kincardine) initiated their inves- tigation 'at this point as well. Firefighters' spouses, along with other residents, set up a makeshift kitchen in Totn Pegg Construction's new building located across the street from the mill. Breakfast was served to the crews who had worked the long night hours to contain' the fire. The Teeswater department left the scene around 6 a.m., Chief Steer said, with Ripley following a little later. Most of the Lucknow firefighters were released from the scene around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, when Chief Steer said they felt the blaze was completely under control. A shift format was in place 'until 12:30 a.m. Sunday. At approximately 1:50 a.m. Sunday morning the fire alarm sounded Seeinvestigation, page 16 Business has temporary location by Pat Livingston . Mark Stever, co-owner and manager of the Lucknow Feed Mill Inc., was busy trying to get business back on ,course Monday morning, after an erly morning fire on May 29 caused in excess of $1 million in damage. The Lucknow and District Fire Department received the call at approximately 1:15 a.m. and after appraising the situation called in the Ripley and Teeswater Fire Departments under the mutual aid agreement. Mr. Stever said the • night crew worked until around 10:30 p.m. and when they left "everything was fine." A temporary location has been set up at Snobelen Elevators (Anderson Flax) on Canning Street, Lucknow. The phone number of the business remains the same - 528-3000. The line was to be hooked up Monday past. Still in a state of shock, Mr. Stever said it was a little premature to make too many comments. He said they hope to continue business "as near normal as pos- sible" and asks for their customers to "bear with us under the cir- cumstances. We will .try not to inconvenience them any more than necessary." Mr. Stever said "We were cont-. mitted to the business from the start, and as long as we have the community support, our hope is to rebuild." Eleven employees were affected by the devastation. However, Mr. Stever said Monday morning they are still on the payroll. A back-up system was in place for invoicing so those records are not lost. They managed to salvage one out of four computers from the office. When questioned about insurance coverage, Mr. Stever referred to it as being "adequate." He commented on the dedication of the three fire departments saying that quite often people question the See mill, page 16 Ritchie home sustains "damage by Pat Livingston An estimate of damage sustained by the Leonard and Bernadean Ritchie home, as a result of the fire that destroyed the Lucknow Feed Mill on the weekend, was not available on Monday. The early morning fire on May 29 went undetected by the Ritchies and their daughter, Audrey, until "ba- nging on the front door" woke the family. Mike Whitcroft of Lucknow spotted the fire and alerted the Ritchies as did another unknown passerby. The strong south-easterly winds carried huge hot embers across the Ritchie home, just east of the feed mill, in the direction of the Luck - now Public School. Lucknow's Fire Chief Peter Steer said three lines wereconcentrated on the roof of the Ritchie home and at one time the Floyd Milne residence was watered down as well. The Ritchie honie sustained heavy smoke and water damage but the extent was, not known at press time. Mrs. Ritchie said there was con- siderable water in the basement as well. This is not the first time the Ritchie home has been in danger from a fire at the mill. On August 29, 1962, the business then known as Treleaven Milling Company was destroyed by an early morning fire. At that time it was .reported that "large chunks of flaming embers drifted lazily to the west and showered down on rooftops. Hose lines were laid to keep roofs wetted down for a distance of some two blocks from the fire." The Ritchie home was wetted down twice in 1962 to protect it. Mrs. Ritchie said Monday that they will stay with their daughter, Nancy and Doug Aitchison until the house is fit for them to 'return to. An early morning fire on May 29 resulted In over $1 million In damages to the Lucknow Feed MITI Inc. Lucknow and District Fire Department fought the blaze, with assistance from the Ripley and Teeswater Departments under the mutual aid agreement. It was a devastating blow to the new owners who had taken over the business two months ago. (Pat Livingston photo)