Fort Erie firefighters are being hailed as heroes for their dedicated efforts in extinguishing a massive fire that ravaged a historic former high school in the town. Fire Chief Mark Schmitt and Mayor Wayne Redekop commended the firefighters, most of whom are volunteers, for working tirelessly for 16 hours to combat the stubborn blaze at the former Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School. The incident has been classified as arson by the Niagara Regional Police.

Responding to the fire at approximately 1 a.m. on Ridge Road North, firefighters from all four fire stations faced challenging conditions as they worked to contain the fire, eliminate hot spots, and safeguard the surrounding community. Despite the physical demands of the response, many exhausted volunteers returned to their regular jobs the same day or utilized personal time to recuperate.

In a town news release on Tuesday, Chief Schmitt expressed pride in the professionalism displayed by the crews throughout the response, stating, “Our crews exhibited the highest standards of professionalism under difficult conditions for many hours. We cannot thank them enough.”

Mayor Redekop praised the firefighters for their strenuous efforts in ensuring community safety, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to Fort Erie. The former high school, with its original 1927 front exterior designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural and historical significance, holds a prominent place in the Ridgeway and Crystal Beach communities.

Before the fire, demolition work had commenced at the building, with plans to preserve the facade for potential future redevelopment. The town highlighted the careful preservation of the facade during firefighting operations while guaranteeing the complete extinguishment of the fire.

Amid concerns over the building’s deterioration, safety remained a paramount concern during the fire response, according to town officials. The investigation into the incident is now led by the 5 District Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) in collaboration with the Fort Erie Fire Department. Residents and businesses in the vicinity have been urged to review any surveillance footage and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.