Large fire destroys portion of St. Catharines-area winery
Posted March 27, 2022 2:04 pm.
Last Updated March 27, 2022 7:36 pm.
An overnight fire has destroyed a portion of a St. Catharines-area winery.
Fire crews from St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Pelham, West Niagara, West Lincoln and Niagara-on-the-Lake were called to battle the structure blaze at Hernder Estate Winery in the township of Louth around 10 p.m. Saturday night.
The blaze was considered under control by 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
The fire was contained to the original barn building and there was no damage to the warehouse or production facilities.
Crews remained on scene Sunday morning to deal with any remaining hot spots.
@STCFireServices is still operating at Hernder Estate Winery with tanker support from our mutual aid partners. No fire damage to warehouse and production facilities. Crews are working with heavy equipment operator to put out remaining hot spots. pic.twitter.com/kHPkaBpDAV
— St. Catharines Fire Services (@STCFireServices) March 27, 2022
According to Niagra Regional Police, four people who were in the building at the time of the blaze were evacuated and one was transported to a nearby hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
There was no immediate word on what may have caused the fire.
The Ministry of Labour and Office of the Fire Marshall have been called in to investigate.
According to a GoFundMe launched by The Mom Market Collective, there were 34 vendors involved with the winery at the time of the fire, and it has launched a fundraiser to support these businesses impacted with a goal of $50,000.
As of late Sunday afternoon, the fundraiser has seen nearly half the fundraising target met.
St. Catharines’ mayor also shared the fundraiser online, thanking the STC community “for your support and stepping up in a time of need.”
Thank you to our STC community for your support and stepping up in a time of need. Dozens of home based small biz were at Hernder this weekend for the Mom Market and have lost some or all of their products. For those who can support:https://t.co/o7jmuCQ2T0
— Walter Sendzik ???????? (@WSendzik) March 27, 2022
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