HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 22THE RISK
Not many tires over the years
the Brussels department at such
Legion fire in July of 1988. Two
later tried for arson.
have volunteers of
a senseless risk as the
men were arrested and
put the
In July of 1988, fire broke out in
the Brussels Legion. For several
hours while the Brussels firefight-
ers fought the dangerous blaze,
officers from the Wingham OPP
were hot on the trail of the two men
they believed responsible.
Shortly after the fire department
was called at 2:20 a.m., police were
notified as a break-in was suspect-
ed from the start, as a downstairs
window had been broken and the
firemen had determined that the
front door had been forced open.
"Nobody would have minded the
little bit of liquor they took, it's the
stupid vandalism that put my men's
Items lost forever
Some of the items lost or
damaged beyond repair in the fire
at the Brussels Branch of the Royal
Canadian Legion July 1988 cannot
be replaced at any price.
Both the Legion and the Ladies
Auxiliary Charters, dating from
1931 and 1946 respectively, were
damaged beyond repair. These
documents could never be replaced
even if duplicates could be made.
All the trophies and awards won
by both the pipe band and by the
Legion throughout their histories
were lost, along with the engraved
names of those who won them. All
the photographs of the band, taken
in full regalia every few years since
the band's beginning in 1952, were
also lost.
Other items, such as the Legion's
flags, the framed letter from Queen
Elizabeth II, and other mementoes
that have meant so much were
destroyed.
Ladies Auxiliary lost office and
kitchen supplies in the fire, with
most of the plastic ware in the
kitchen, including parts of an
expensive cabbage shredder,
destroyed by the heat. In addition,
the group was advised to throw out
all the canned goods and frozen
foods since damage to such items
couldn't be safely assessed.
Many files show severe smoke
damage while a few were water-
damaged, which meant hours of
work for group secretaries and
officers.
DANGEROUS WORK
Volunteers from the Brussels Fire Department battled a blaze that demolished the Brussels
Legion in July of 1988. Arson was the cause. Two men were later arrested and charged.
Page 10
-- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 --
Arsonists hit Brussels Legion in1988
lives at risk," Fire Chief Howard
Bernard was reported as saying.
Volunteers were at the scene
until 6 a.m., several times donning
special breathing apparatus in order
to enter the smoke-filled building.
The former Brussels residents
were later charged with one count
of break, enter and theft and one
count of arson. The first man was
arrested just hours after the fire
broke out, while the second was
arrested the next day.
Estimates of damage to the build-
ing were between $150,000 to
$200,000. Most of the lower floor
of the Legion was gutted while the
entire building suffered heavy
smoke and water damage as fire-
men fought the stubborn blaze.
Exterior damage to the steel-clad
building was minimal.
The Legion has since been
rebuilt.
Community reaches out
to aid homeless victims
ing and lodging. "The town has
been super," Gus Protopapas said at
the time.
"I feel sorry for my neighbour
because the fire started in my place.
I'm grateful nobody was hurt, but
it's still a great loss for everybody."
Congratulations
Brussels
Fire Department
from the residents & staff of
HURONLEA &
HIGHLAND APARTMENTS
Brussels - 887-9267
Congratulations
to
Brussels Fire Department
on the opening of the
new Fire Hall
MURRAY'S BARBERSHOP
Brussels 887-6223
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McDonald
new
building
BEST
were
and
Brussels
proud
materials
Home
Lumber
to
WISHES
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supply
for
Hardware
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Continued from page 9
restaurant.
The Protopapases, who owned
the restaurant, were visiting family
at the time of the fire.
Local people offered food, cloth-