SOUTH GLENGARRY, Ontario – A fire on the morning of Sunday, March 6 completely destroyed a picnic shelter located at the Gray’s Creek Conservation Area.
A statement from the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) which manages the site says that there are currently no indications that the fire was intentionally set. There are suspicions that the fire could have started in a garbage can that was adjacent to the structure. Security camera footage has revealed no further clues as to the possible cause of the fire.
South Glengarry Fire Services arrived on scene on Sunday morning to extinguish the fire.
The RRCA say that they currently have no cost or timeframe for replacing the picnic shelter.
“While the RRCA does not currently have an estimate for the cost of replacing the picnic shelter, we will be exploring various cost and replacement options. Though the original structure was constructed by the RRCA several decades ago, the picnic shelter had recently received significant repairs, including a new roof,” reads a statement from the RRCA. “We are humbled and grateful for the numerous messages of support received from local residents, who shared memories of family time spent at Gray’s Creek Conservation Area, encouraged donations to help defray the cost of a new picnic shelter, and even offered to help rebuild the structure. Anyone interested in donating to Gray’s Creek Conservation Area can do so through the RRCA’s website at rrca.on.ca.”