Screengrab of video via Lanark County Scanner (with permission)
Firefighters in Lanark Village were called Saturday evening to a structure fire on Hillier Street at the historic Caldwell House, an 1847 stone home built by early lumber baron Boyd Caldwell.
The nearly 180-year-old residence is considered one of the village’s landmark heritage homes.
The home features thick local stone walls and 11-foot ceilings, original woodwork, staircase and mouldings.
Fire Chief Stephen Rothwell told lanarkleedstoday.ca the stone structure of the building “created significant challenges in accessing and extinguishing the fire.”
Lanark County Scanner posted a video of the blaze.
“Crews utilized nearby dry hydrants in Lanark Village and tanker shuttle operation to provide a continuous water supply throughout the incident,” he noted.
Rothwell said flames were already visible from the rear of the house when crews arrived just after 6 p.m.
He said crews quickly deployed multiple hose lines to attack the fire while simultaneously protecting a nearby structure from the intense heat and flames, with those efforts being successful in preventing the spread of the fire.
No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported. Rothwell said the cause of the fire is currently undetermined.
The fire was eventually brought under control shortly before 11 p.m., with Drummond/North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Department Stations (BBD&E and South Sherbrooke), Carleton Place Fire Department, Mississippi Mills Fire Department, Perth Fire Department, and Smiths Falls Fire assisting.
Story by Grant Deme
