Classy Lanes Stables owners Jamie and Barb Millier plan to rebuild the horse barn destroyed by fire last week.
When the site is cleaned up, plans are to rebuild – a process which should take about four months.
On Jan. 6 Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever noted he had spoken to one of the owners and passed on the message the township is willing to help in whatever way it can.
“When I spoke to Barb (Millier), she indicated they planned to clean up and rebuild the facility,” said Lever.
Lever said it is important to note the fire was contained to one barn. He added when councillors toured the facility, they were told it was the largest standardbred training facility in Canada.
“Everything was first rate there. We look forward to them rebuilding and hopefully it won’t take too long,” he said.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said media reports noted there were no sprinklers in the barn and while not mandatory, he asked whether there may be recommendations coming out from the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Puslinch fire chief Steve Goode said, “I couldn’t say whether horses would be saved or not. I don’t have the expertise.” However, he alluded to an incident at Mohawk raceway, where many of the horses that were saved ran right back into the barn.
Having sprinklers may have helped, but Goode said “there was a lot of wind that night, and the freezing temperatures may have frozen the sprinkler anyway.”
Goode was quick to point out the facility did meet the Ontario Fire Code.
“They have a clean-run place …” he said. “There’s a reason its called ‘Classy’ – because it is. It’s one of the best in Canada.”
Jamie and Barb Millier were not available for comment by press time.
