Investigators are still at the site of Glencairn Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which burned down last week in what police have said is a fire of a “suspicious” nature.
While the front-facing part of the historic home is still intact, the rest of the home was lost in the blaze. Crews have dismantled some of the structure to make the site safe for investigators to work, as there was extensive structural damage and the risk of a collapse.
“There’s all kinds of hazards right now,” said Jim Kettles, operations manager for the Office of the Fire Marshal, in an interview.
Heavy equipment was brought in to remove parts of the structure, including backhoes. Nothing was removed from the site, and the parts that were taken down have been left there, though he said he couldn’t gauge how much of the structure was removed.
“It is a total loss,” Kettles said.
“If you were just to look at the front, you would think, ‘Oh, they might be able to save it.’ Everything else behind it is gone.”
The blaze began in the early hours of April 16 and resulted in the total loss of the historic home.
“The fire is believed to be suspicious,” wrote Const. Philip Gavin with the Niagara Regional Police in a written interview with The Lake Report.
The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Office of the Fire Marshal, with support from the Niagara Regional Police and Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire and Emergency Services. The town is not in charge of investigating the scene, according to an April 18 news release by the town.
At this time, the cost of the damages is unknown.
Property records show the nearly three-acre Glencairn Hall was purchased for $6 million on Oct. 15, 2024.
The ownership of the property was registered to a numbered company, 1001021589 Ontario Corp., which was incorporated on Sept. 30, 2024.
Provincial records show the sole director of the numbered company is Scott Cameron Corbett, of Marine Parade Drive, Toronto.
Gavin confirmed the owner is aware of the fire at the property, which received heritage designation in April 2024.
Police and firefighters responded to the blaze at the unoccupied 1832 NOTL home on April 16 at 4:39 a.m., where the structure at 14795 Niagara River Pkwy. was fully engulfed in flames, according to an April 18 news release by the Niagara Regional Police.
It was declared under control by 6:57 a.m.
A photo by neighbour Doug Munkley showed a red gas can at the scene.
“The gas can in the photo you have provided is an element of that suspicion,” wrote Gavin.
The investigation could take anywhere from several days to several months, Kettles said.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009524.
Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest.
