On the evening of November 12 into the early hours of November 13, Norfolk County Fire Department responded to five structure fires across three locations, mobilizing resources from seven Norfolk County fire stations and two additional stations from the Brant County Fire Department. A total of 24 trucks were deployed to manage the fires, which affected four structures on rural farming properties outside Simcoe and one apartment building in downtown Simcoe. The fires resulted in two non-life-threatening injuries to firefighters, with no reported injuries to the public.
The first incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Windham East Quarter Line, where two vacant structures on a rural farm property were engulfed. Approximately two hours later, at 1:00 a.m., another fire broke out on Windham Road 13, also involving two vacant structures on a rural farm. Both incidents are under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), though the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is not attending either scene. Damage estimates for these rural fires are still undetermined.
At around 3:00 a.m., a third fire was reported at an apartment building on Norfolk Street South in downtown Simcoe. The building was occupied at the time, and the resident was able to escape safely. Firefighters also rescued a cat from the building and provided care at the scene. This fire remains under investigation, with an estimated damage cost of $50,000; the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) will not be attending.
Norfolk County Fire Department reminds residents to maintain working smoke alarms and exercise caution when charging electronic devices.
Residents are reminded to follow manufacturer instructions when charging cell phones, tablets, and game controllers. Damaged charging cables should be replaced, and overheated devices should be disconnected until they can be repaired. For safety, always charge devices on a hard surface and unplug them once fully charged.
Roads around the fire scenes were closed for several hours but have since reopened.
