By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — A house fire on Meadow Street in Cobden is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office and the Renfrew Detachment of the OPP.
Renfrew Fire Chief Guy Longtin, who is acting fire chief for Whitewater Region, said no one was home at the time of the fire.
The call came in just before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 from a neighbour.
About 15 firefighters from Station 1 (Haley Station), Station 2 (Cobden) and Station 4 (Beachburg) responded to the blaze, he said.
When firefighters arrived on scene, the home was fully involved, he said.
“They did a good job, they had a quick knock-down, which is surprising, they hit it hard with heavy hose lines and really knocked it down quickly,” Chief Longtin said.
The scene was cleared shortly after 2 p.m., but due to there being an investigation, he will be returning to the home.
While the structure is still standing, he said, “It’s beyond repair.”
“I can’t say a whole heck of a lot because the fire is being treated as suspicious,” Chief Longtin said. “So, it’s being investigated by the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall and Renfrew Detachment of the OPP.”
Anyone who may have information on this fire is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers also accepts tips online at www.valleytips.ca.
This was Chief Longtin’s first fire within Whitewater Region since becoming acting fire chief in August and he had nothing but praise for the firefighters.
“I was very impressed with how they operated,” he said. “They had good scene control and the guys did a bang-up job. They hit it (the fire) hard and knocked it down and the structure is still standing.”
Chief Longtin has been chief in Renfrew since 1992, but started in fire services in 1979 serving in Horton, Seeley’s Bay and McNab/Braeside.
