CORNWALL, Ontario – Firefighters are at the scene of a blaze on Vincent Massey Drive at the Ontario Hockey Academy, which has caused extensive damage.
The fire began burning just before 7 p.m. It’s unclear what sparked things, but the city’s public information department has confirmed everyone from the facility, including students, have been accounted for. There were no injuries.
The city’s fire service has brought in more resources from South Stormont to help with the situation.
“At this time we have control over the fire,” fire chief Pierre Voisine said in a media release.
Thick black smoke was billowing from the building and flames were screaming into the air as firefighters worked on dousing the fire.
By nightfall much of the facility was a smoking ruin, and firefighters were pouring water into the charred structure.
The fire is believed to have originated in the dormitory section of the academy, the city said in a media release.
Firefighters had used chainsaws to vent the structure and a man at the scene said flames then began to shoot into the sky.
“After some time the fire broke through and started burning the roof,” said Aaron White. “The more flames became visible the more heat we could feel.”
A massive crowd had gathered at the scene.
“The crowd was small at first then grew very, very large,” said White.
Firefighters from both Cornwall stations have been called in to fight the flames.
The Ontario Hockey Academy is a private high school where students live on a residential campus with classmates, while also receiving heavy doses of instruction both on and off the ice.
Ninety-five residents from the hockey academy are going to be put up at the Ramada Inn for the night.
A neighbouring care facility has been evacuated as a precaution.
