Fire destroys midtown building

Kingston Fire and Rescue continued to fight a large fire in a commercial building at Westdale Avenue and Bath Road through much of the morning on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.

The two-story building at 28 Bath Rd is the former site of the Olde Circle Flea Market, a bingo hall and a cooking school, among others, and was originally the home of Wilmot’s Dairy. Now owned by Kingston Terminal Properties, a Springer Group company, it was reportedly vacant at the time of the blaze and was slated for demolition as part of a redevelopment plan.

Kingston Fire & Rescue crews were initially called to the scene at around 10:30 p.m. on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, by which time the building was already fully engulfed in flames. By 3 a.m., the fire had consumed the majority of the building, with at least one wall having collapsed and the roof caved in.

Heavy smoke in the area affected adjacent buildings and was carried for several kilometres throughout the city. No injuries have been reported.

The massive fire response involved about a dozen fire trucks, including pumper and aerial trucks. At times the flames shot up over 30 feet in the air, and Kingston residents kilometres away across the city reported being affected by the smoke emanating from the fire.

Flames from the fire approached other nearby buildings on several occasions, including the adjacent bowling alley.

Investigators say that their investigation has concluded but due to the extent of the damage and the unsafe nature of the scene, the cause of the fire remains unknown.