Electrical overload possible cause of fire in Beeton

Posted July 9, 2012

Residents of the Simcoe County Housing Corporation apartment building at 50 Tecumseth Street North in Beeton spent a couple hours as guests of Station 2 in Beeton while firefighters looked after a small fire isolated to the complex's attic late Friday night.

New Tecumseth Fire Rescue recounted in this morning's press release that Beeton firefighters were dispatched to the seniors housing unit at 10:06 pm for a reported fire alarm.

"Upon arrival fire crews found evacuation in progress, and an indication of fire in the attic area (with no signs of fire showing)," according to the press release. "On investigation a small attic fire was confirmed. All residents were confirmed out and were displaced for a couple of hours (no injuries). Electricity was isolated to the facility, the fire quickly brought under control, extinguished, and smoke ventilated. No further extension of fire was found which was contained to the attic area, and the structure was monitored for air quality."

The press release did not include how many people were impacted, but cause of fire has been identified as "possible electrical overload."

"The evacuees had the air conditioned Station #2 Beeton made available to them while displaced. A coordinated return to their homes was undertaken floor by floor with 2nd floor residents being permitted back in at approximately 1:38 am with facility staff under a fire watch condition until fire alarm system repairs could be completed. The incident was then terminated."

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