On March 11, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at a home on Line Hill Road in Huntsville.
When firefighters arrived, an occupant of the home used water to knock the fire down, which contained the fire’s spread to the living room area of the home. The house was not equipped with working smoke alarms, and none of the occupants were provided with early warning.
There were three adults and two cats present at the time of the fire. The fire began in the living room on the ground floor, where an elderly occupant was sleeping. At the same time, two other occupants were asleep in the basement. One occupant smelled the smoke and discovered the large fire growing in the living room. Smoke was thick and jeopardized the safety of all occupants.
An elderly occupant was transported to the Huntsville Hospital due to smoke inhalation, and the estimated damage from the fire is estimated at $8,000.
After a thorough examination of the scene and interviews with the occupants, the cause of the fire was determined to be a discarded cigarette, which ignited yarn and other knitting materials inside a wicker basket.
“Between the years 2014-2023, 39% of residential fatal fire victims were over the age of 65 in the Province of Ontario” said Steve Markham, Public Education and Fire Prevention Officer with the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department. “The most effective way to protect our parents & grandparents is by providing at least one smoke alarm on every level, stay away from gifting things like fire blankets. Only working smoke alarms save lives.”
Concerned about the smoke alarms in your home?
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department offers free judgement free home fire safety checks & fire safety education to the community.
If you would like to arrange a check of your smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, please contact our Fire Prevention Division at 705-789-5201 to learn more.
From the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department
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Fire Departments often offer free detectors and installation for Seniors .Give them a call and NOT on 911 !
Cost of fire/CO2 alarms for a house runs about 50 to 150 bucks per unit and you might need 3. Small potatoes to diminish the chance of becoming a post blaze crispy critter. I have wondered as to the value, myself, when the battery dies in one of our units. Whether it’s that important. But you just snivel and suck it up
Recently we had the rescue of a couple dozen fishermen from a Georgian Bay ice floe. One of the saved mentioned that the ice appeared to be past its’ best before day’. But the catching of a burbot or perch or such we fishy was worth the risk of drinking standing up. Worth the chance of drowning in a cold, watery world. I fail to understand why they would find their lives of such little value. And then expect taxpayers to foot the bill for stupidity.
Then we have this lighting controversy. I spent a lot of my time watching the night sky and it is pretty spectacular at times. Here in Huntsville we can admire the circumpolar lights of night. The Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds of the south from Samoa, New Zealand and Australia were great on those southern nights. But how many would wonder about any light show in the heavens if it weren’t for someone calling attention to a fine showing of a comet or the Norther Lights?
We all have perspectives and opinions. Some of our complains are indeed small. But to complain about the complaint of “a light left on” certainly takes minimalism to a new…. low!?
Thankfully no one was seriously injured. The estimated damage was $8,000. How much did it cost to have the fire department attend the fire? Smoke/fire detectors probably cost less than a carton of cigarettes. We all have our priorities.