Collingwood Fire Department remains on the scene at Sporting Life after a fire yesterday evening burned through the night destroying the building and the stock inside.
Collingwood Fire Chief Ross Parr said the fire call came in at about 5:54 p.m. He said staff noticed a fire and tried to put it out with three fire extinguishers, but were unsuccessful. Fire crews arrived to see heavy smoke and flames coming from the building.
There were no injuries as staff were able to safely evacuate the building. Firefighters who worked on the blaze all night also remain uninjured.
The fire burned all night long, and crews remain on site with a ladder truck this morning (8:30 a.m.) watching for hot spots and possible flare-ups. Parr said his team had just put the fire out at about 8 a.m. this morning.
The flat roof and brick wall on the south side of the building is destroyed, leaving the inside open to the elements. The rest of the building is coated in black fire and smoke damage.
Last night crews battled the blaze from all angles, including from a ladder truck stretched out above the roof. Clearview Fire Department supplied extra air tanks for the Collingwood crews working on the fire.
Chief Parr said there is extensive structural damage to the building and it cannot be salvaged.
He has called the Ontario Fire Marshall's office to investigate the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it started and burned hottest at the back of the store on the south side of the building.
Sporting Life is a retail store selling outdoor clothing and sportswear.
