Northern Ontario Landmark Burns To The Ground
Dunc Lake Resort on fire. Photo Lou Budgell for OntarioNewsNorth.com 2011
Monday after a day of high winds, smoke began billowing once again from the rubble. Photo Karina Hunter OntarioNewsNorth.com 2011
HIGHWAY 17, DUNC LAKE, ON – Sunday, June 26th word quickly spread to outlying communities that fire had ignited in the main building at Dunc Lake Resort, and it had burnt to the ground. Because Dunc Lake Resort and it’s neighbour, Gloria’s Restaurant and Motel, are not part of an organized community, they are not served by any fire department, leaving the Ministry of Natural Resources to answer the need to get the fire under control. A water bomber was sent and collected water from the lake, just across the highway, to ‘bomb’ the building (see video below) preventing any spread of the fire to the cottages which are also on the property and who have guests staying in them.
High winds Monday, caused the pile of debris which was beleived to have been extinguished, to begin billowing smoke once again after having looked ‘out’ since the day prior. One of the cottage guests on site described what had happened the day of the fire “We were out back [behind the main building] at the [camp] fire burning boxes when the owner’s 4 year old son walked up to ask if he could get a ‘freezie’ from the freezer [inside the main building]. He returned without having enterred to mention that ‘Nana’s house is on fire’ sure enough there were flames coming from the whirly-birds on the roof…” (See video for full quote). Clearly it was very fortunate that no one was hurt in this incident. Though there were suggestions that perhaps the fire had been caused by an electrical problem, there is yet a confirmed cause of the fire which levelled the more than 50 year old business which has at different times included a gas bar, restaurant, bar and convenience store.
If you live within a municipality, contact your local municipal office or fire department BEFORE burning.
Be FireSmart!
For more information, visit www.ontario.ca/fireprevention and
report forest fires using the toll-free reporting number:
310-FIRE (3473).
FUN FACT from the Editor: I worked at Dunc Lake for a summer pumping gas, as a cashier in the convenience store, as a waitress and a short-order cook with several other teens (girls).
