Church's Army Surplus store in flames on October 14, 2017. Photo courtesy of Andrew Callow/Facebook. Used with permission.Church's Army Surplus store in flames on October 14, 2017. Photo courtesy of Andrew Callow/Facebook. Used with permission.
Chatham

Downtown Chatham Fire Response Was Quick

The Chatham-Kent fire department says firefighters responded to a large blaze in downtown Chatham Saturday afternoon within four minutes.

Whitney Burk, public educator with Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services, says almost 60 firefighters from three stations battled the blaze by applying water from all angles and used aerial trucks to prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings and homes. Burk says the fire started in the roof and the walls at Church's Army and Outdoor Military Surplus and a hot tub storage facility next door on Thames St.

“Luckily fires of this magnitude rarely happen in our community, however it is something that our firefighters train for and are highly skilled in dealing with this type of incident,” says Assistant Chief Chris Case. “They utilized their aerial apparatus to apply water from above and were able to contain the fire.”

Case also says “the individuals who were in the store when the fire began did the right thing.  They got out, stayed out and called 911."

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.

There were no injuries and all residents have returned to their homes.

Damage is pegged at $550,000.

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