Fifty portable toilets were destroyed on Saturday morning in yet another suspicious fire.
On Aug. 26 at about 5am Erin firefighters responded to a fire at 19 Pioneer Drive in the village of Erin.
“The fire occurred at a storage yard for Porta Potties,” stated a press release from the OPP.
Fire Chief Dan Callaghan said one of the town’s volunteer firefighters called 911 after seeing a glow in the sky.
When firefighters arrived, Callaghan said they saw a large pile of the portable toilets burned.
“I think there was still fire burning, but they burn pretty quick and very furious,” said Callaghan.
He added about 50 of the portable toilets were destroyed or damaged in the blaze. Damage estimates are around $50,000.
“It’s a large amount of plastics burning all at once, so water is effective, but it takes quite a bit to knock it down,” said Callaghan.
“They were well burned by the time the fire department did arrive.”
The OPP and Erin Fire and Emergency Services are investigating the fire, which police say is suspicious.
“The arson task force (and) OPP attended and the Fire Marshal was notified,” said Callaghan.
“We see no reason for that fire to start at that location at that time, in those Porta Potties.”
The portable toilets had been cleaned and were ready to be sent to customers, noted Callaghan.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
There have been more than 30 suspicious fires in Wellington County and the surrounding area since September.
Some of the fires are being investigated by a multi-jurisdictional team of police and fire officials.
