'A lot of history': Old Marina Restaurant in Puslinch, Ont. considered total loss after fire
The Old Marina Restaurant is considered a total loss after a devastating fire ripped through the building just outside Cambridge, Ont. on Saturday.
This is the second destructive fire at the restaurant on the shores of Puslinch Lake since it opened in the early 1990s.
Firefighters got the call early Saturday afternoon.
Cambridge Fire was the first on scene and was later joined by at least five other local fire departments.
”Cambridge crews arrived on scene to find heavy smoke and heat in the building,” Puslinch Fire Department Chief Tom Mulvey said.
“They made an attempt to enter the building and they could not at that time. [The] incident commander from Cambridge had his crews move out and do what they call a defensive attack by putting water on the fire from the outside.”
Mulvey said the fire is believed to have started in the basement.
“Of course we haven’t been able to get in to have a look around to see what the cause was,” he continued. “We don’t consider it a suspicious fire at this time.”
No injuries have been reported
WITNESS ACCOUNTS
Witnesses told CTV News the fire didn’t seem very big initially, but within minutes, it started to grow.
“It didn’t seem too bad at first then all of a sudden I could see the flames coming through and the windows blowing out,” said Albert Christian.
“It was about one hour there was no flame, it was just the smoke,” said Mona Ghaenizabeh. “And then the flame came. It was very sad, very sad to see.”
A LOCAL LANDMARK
Word of the fire spread quickly, leaving many in the community devastated. The Old Marina Restaurant has been a staple for decades and also had a serious fire in 2005.
"You couldn't see anything but smoke at one point," said witness Kristy Holdaway. "It's just sad for the owners, you know, being in the park, you know the owners, and they've had a lot of hardship this year, so it's sad for them."
Holdaway said people come from all over the visit the restaurant.
“It's hard to get reservations in here. It's always packed, it's always booked, and it's not just a restaurant, there are activities, people who have their weddings booked here," Holdaway said.
“It’s just a sad day. A lot of memories, a lot of history.”
As crews continued to battle the flames on Saturday, police shut down a section of Lake Road as fire trucks had to leave and get water.
Later in the day, fire crews brought in an excavator to remove the roof of the building to help deal with hotspots inside.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause, as well as how much damage was done.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Israel closes Gaza crossing after Hamas attack and vows military operation 'in the very near future'
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.