Workshop consumed by fire in Puslinch

PUSLINCH – This township's fire prevention officer is trying to figure out what came first – a grass fire that spread to a workshop building on Leslie Road West, or a structure fire that spread to the surrounding grass.

In either case, the structure at 7821 Leslie Rd. West was pretty much consumed by the fire that started around 1:15pm on July 14.

And even with support from Guelph/Eramosa and City of Guelph fire departments, it took about 30 firefighters and several hours to extinguish the fires.

Deputy chief Brad Bigrigg said Guelph/Eramosa and Guelph fire services came with tankers and special ATVs with water tanks.

Bigrigg said the initial 911 calls were for a grass fire, then a structure fire, then structure and grass.

Firefighters arrived on scene at 1:40pm to find a large brush fire and a 40 by 60-foot shed or workshop in flames.

“It was on its way to the ground when we got there,” he said. “The biggest problem was the grass fire,” that was moving toward other properties.

“We had to split the resources to fight two fires.”

No one was injured while battling the fires, but Bigrigg said dry conditions of late are posing a problem for firefighters.

It doesn’t take much for grass to catch fire or much wind to blow a grass fire out of control, he said.

“If we don’t get rain on Sunday, we’ll have to have a look at permitted burning,” he said, suggesting the township may have to issue a no burn/no fires policy until conditions become safer.

While the cause of this fire has not yet been determined, Bigrigg said officials do not consider it suspicious.