An early-morning fire at Hamilton’s Christie Lake Conservation Area forced the YMCA to close its Camp Chippewa program for the week and remove children from the property by bus after facilities in the area were damaged.
There were 249 campers there at the time, Shawn McKillop, senior vice-president of communications with the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford, told CBC News.
The Hamilton Police Service said officers and the fire department responded to the structure fire at the conservation area at 1002 Highway 5 in Flamborough at about 7 a.m. ET.
There were no reported injuries to campers or staff, the conservation authority said.
Hamilton police Chief David Cunliffe said that when they arrived, firefighters found the Beach Pavillion had collapsed and was burning, and the Lakeside Pavilion was burning and partially collapsed.
Crews said there were clear signs that there had been a third attempt to set a third structure, the Marine Pavilion, on fire, Cunliffe added.
Cunliffe pegged the damage to the structures at $4 million to $5 million. The fire is still under investigation, he said.
The conservation authority said the fire caused significant damage to two buildings: the Lakeside Pavilion and Beach Pavilion 1, which houses the beach store and washroom facilities.
The conservation area is closed for the day to ensure public safety while the extent of the damage is assessed, and to allow an investigation of the fire by authorities, the conservation authority said.
McKillop, with the YMCA, said Camp Chippewa will remain closed the rest of the week. Families will receive refunds for the affected camp days and are being contacted directly with information and instructions, he said.
“We are assessing the impact on YMCA programming for the remainder of the summer and will provide families with another update later this week,” the organization said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our campers and staff remain our highest priority.”
The conservation area is a popular area for beach fun, picnic areas and summer camps.
The conservation authority said staff are contacting individuals and groups with upcoming bookings that are affected by the damaged facilities and areas.
Operational updates about Christie Lake Conservation Area, including public access and facility availability, will be posted as information becomes available.
Police are asking anyone with information on the fire to contact police or leave information via Crime Stoppers. The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal was informed, but won’t be going to the scene, police added.
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