M’CHIGEENG—A M’Chigeeng First Nation residence sustained extensive smoke and water damage inside the home, and the lone permanent occupant of the residence lost two pet dogs in the blaze. The fire had been reported as suspicious by at least one area news media outlet, however The Expositor has confirmed that this is not the case.
“There was a fire Tuesday (October 21), in the middle of the afternoon,” stated Forrest Schut, M’Chigeeng Fire Chief. “Our firefighters responded and were able to put the fire out.” However, the owner lost two pet dogs inside the residence, “due to smoke inhalation,” said Fire Chief Schut. He explained there was no one in the residence at the time of the fire. “We carried out our initial investigation, and our findings indicate the fire started in the bathroom fan area, or electricity shorted out, and was in the ceiling. We were able to put the fire out and saved the structure.”
As to reports that the fire was suspicious, Fire Chief Schut noted that “I don’t know where the information came from that it was a suspicious fire and that there was a heavy police presence at the residence.”
The blaze took place on 56 Assance Street, on the street located just in front of Lakeview Elementary School in M’Chigeeng. “We got the call of the fire at about 1 pm and we were on the scene until about 2:30 pm,” said Fire Chief Schut. “The male who owns the home is also a father, and his kids visit him at this house periodically. No one was in the home at the time of the fire, the man was in Wiikwemkoong at the time of the fire. His sister contacted him to let him know of the fire.”
Fire Chief Schut explained, “by the time we reached the door of the home, the dogs had perished due to smoke inhalation. We had a very good response of firefighters on the scene of the fire. The cause of the fire was not suspicious.”
While no other fire departments were contacted to support the M’Chigeeng firefighters, Fire Chief Schut pointed out several volunteer firefighters from the Central Manitoulin Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire, being employees in the M’Chigeeng band office as well.
