Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal has determined electrical failure was to blame for the devastating fire at Classy Lane Training Centre almost a year ago.
The blaze, which killed 43 racehorses, started on Jan. 4 at around 11pm in Barn 1 at 6923 Conc. 1 in Puslinch Township.
Puslinch Fire Services received a report that the building was engulfed with flames, with horses trapped inside. Officials immediately called for assistance from Cambridge, Hamilton, Guelph-Eramosa and Guelph fire departments.
The barn was destroyed
In September, Puslinch’s chief fire protection officer Jason Benn called the Classy Lane blaze “the largest fire in the history of Puslinch, with over $3.2 million worth of damage and loss of life.”
In a Dec. 20 telephone interview with the Wellington Advertiser, Office of the Fire Marshal investigator Manny Garcia said “there was a failure in the electrical supply system which was isolated to the northeast section of the barn structure.”
He explained “in that area there were four things that could have failed: a microwave, a refrigerator and a coffee maker and they were all being supplied power by an extension cord.”
However, “The fire damage was so great it was impossible to determine which one of the items failed,” Garcia added.
He told the Advertiser he is confident in the determination, based on witness statements and the investigation to eliminate other possible causes.
Garcia noted the official fire report is complete and has been given to Puslinch fire chief Steven Goode.
“I just wish we could have narrowed this down to the exact item which failed, but we certainly eliminated the possibility of hydrocarbons or any other highly ignitable material,” said Garcia.
He explained numerous samples were sent to the laboratory for testing.
“We also worked in partnership with the Ontario Racing Commission and stakeholders at the scene. We were able to get a pretty good timeline of what people saw, when they saw it and where the fire was when it was first identified.”
Garcia added it was his understanding that Classy Lane has upgraded all of its stables to include fire suppression systems.
Barn 1 was rebuilt. Now known as Barn 6, it includes many new safety features.
“When it comes to animals, and certainly animals of this calibre, people deal with them every day. We’re lucky we didn’t lose people who would have gone in to save them,” Garcia said.
“It was tragic, but it could have been far worse … and I’m glad to see at least something positive has come out of this.”
Some of the safety measures now in place at Classy Lane include:
– compartmentalizing rooms and containing certain equipment within one room that can be closed off;
– a new Haven fire suppression safety service;
– installing door closures;
– putting all appliances in one room and not permitting space heaters; and
– placing detection devices inside and warning strobes and a horn on the outside of buildings.
