Police again evacuate Barrie homes after more chemicals found

Police once again evacuated houses on Virgilwood Crescent in Barrie on Friday, just a day after residents returned home from a week-long evacuation.

Chief Mark Neelin said officers have found more chemicals behind the wall of a home where they had already recovered 83 explosives, 29 firearms, ammunition and chemicals. As a result, four of the surrounding abodes have been evacuated, and the residents of three more must stay inside.

“This decision was not made lightly,” he said.

“We realize the implications on the residents to be asked to step out again, however the primary consideration for this operation has been the safety of all — the residents, the public and the officers involved.”

Amanda Kernam, whose family moved to the area three months ago, said she understands the need for caution.

“They’ve asked us to leave until possibly 10 o’clock tonight, but with young children we’re just going to check into the hotel again so they can stay on a schedule, and hopefully we can return home tomorrow,” she said.

“As long as my kids are safe, really, I’d stay in a hotel the next couple weeks if I had to. I just want it to be safe for them and safe for everybody else.”

The home in question belonged to two men arrested in connection with a cold-case murder.

Donald Feldhoff, 54, was charged with first-degree murder of 26-year-old Michael Traynor after turning himself in to police last week. His 75-year-old father William has been charged as an accessory after the fact.

The investigation into Traynor’s death remained unsolved decades after his body was found in a wooded area in October 1978. Police said he had been bound and shot more than once in the chest.

Last week, about 60 residents were displaced during the search of the Feldhoffs’ home.

With files from The Canadian Press