Popular Wasaga Beach Strip Ravaged By Fire

Under ideal conditions, it may have ended up being a manageable blaze with minimal damage.  It turned out to be the exact opposite.

Wicked winds fanned the flames that broke out at about 1am Friday morning, and before long the famous pedestrian mall along Wasaga Beach was totally obliterated.  

Twenty two buildings were completely destroyed in the popular getaway spot on Georgian Bay after the worst fire in the town’s history.

“Everything is gone,” laments store owner Huguette Chadwick .  “I mean whatever you think you had, now you find out, you know, in a second that your whole life has been disrupted.”

At its peak six fire departments were involved and 100 firefighters struggled for hours to get the flames under control.

“The conditions were totally working against us,” admits Wasaga Beach fire chief Mike McWilliam.

Fortunately no injuries were reported.

Area residents were stunned by the damage.

“It was massive.  I can’t even describe it,” said Cody Johnston. “I got there. The (flames) weren’t that big but it was going from building to building, and like all you could see was brick walls just standing and there’s nothing left.”

Local restaurateur Beverly Wood arrived on the scene after most of the damage was already done.  It was a daunting sight. “When I got down there, everything was gone. It will be a huge economic impact, especially for next summer if we’re not rebuilt by then or at least have it cleared and levelled so it makes it a safe place for everybody. Millions of dollars.”

The area has been slated for a $400 million development in the next couple of years, and there’s been a lot of speculation about the suspicious timing of the fire.  Officials are currently looking into the cause. 

One thing is certain though, the area will never be the same.

“You know, my first thought was, there goes all our history in smoke,” remarked Wasaga mayor Cal Patterson.

There’s no damage estimate yet, but it’s projected to be well over $1 million.

Losing A Piece Of History

Wasaga Beach has become a famous destination for thousands during the summer months, a place where those who went to “get away from it all” found the area to do just that. Its main strip is not only well known to Ontario residents, it’s also somewhat historic. For the full story of a charming community that has now lost so much of its own past, click here and then click “open.”