T- ire destroy s historie home ny ITFPuIAI 54Mf yr' The Champi on An abandoned century bouse that could potentially have been designated a heritage building burned down in an early Fniday rnorning ire deemed "suspicious" by tire personnel. At about 6 arn., firefigbters arrived at the blaze at the Regional Road 25 borne located on the west aide of the road nortb of Hwy. 40 1. They were about to, go maside the building to figbt the tire wben part of the roof collapsed. At that point, District Chief Ron Townsend called off the internai attack. "'The tire went tbrough the rouf and part of the structure collapsed into the building. We were juat about to, go in when that bap- pened,' Chief Townsend said. The blaze then intensitied as il was fed by tbe oxygen. Firefigbters surrounded the house and battled the blaze frorn outside, Chief Townsend said. Heat cracks quick- 1loiidaiiijo. "The structure was obviously dangerous," Chief Townsend said. Ifs a good tbing we didn't do an interior attack." About 30 firefigbters got the blaze under control after about an bour. No one injured There was nob ody in the bouse and there were no injuries. The fact that the driveway was tuu narrow for two tankers and nurnerous other factors led to a 500-foot-long, four-inch supply line being snaked across the field. Chief Townsend said bie was pleased witb the crew's efforts. "They worked quickly to set up a supply bose tbrougb the field and worked diligently to, gel the tire out." Tbe atone bouse, built around 1847, was on Heritage Miton's bast of properties, said Mel lovio, the decIC\.k, esu 1îi. i ii', ilsi contiilns ali tbe properties in town that could bave "architectural beritage merit," Mr. Iovio said, adding that tbe borne was early Ontario gotbic style. Altbougb be stressed it badn't been designated a beritage borne, it was "waiting to be inventoried" to see if it bad the necessary criteria. Its unfortunate it's gone now," Mr. Iovio said. Chief tire prevention officer Don Stewart said the tire is "suspi- cious." "There's no power au the build- ing, and no one lives tbere. Sornetbing started it, but we don't know wbo or wbat," bie said. Mr. Stewart pegged the darnage at roughly $150,000. It's cornpletely gone. Tbere's absolutely notbing left." Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltonc ana- diarnhampion.com. The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, September 23, 2003--5 ARE YOUR HEADLIIOHTSI I AUMED PROPERLYI I CLEAN Accredited Test & Pepair Facility EXIDE BATTERIES Butit in Cana ato endure our harsh Canadman winters. Covered 9 by a~9 9 nationwide warranty 9a car installed U ,I~I IRStl A Great Selection Available.... 2003 Cavior'Ms 2003 1NackorP 2008 MaIIbus 2003 Uepala's 2M0 Aieos 2003 Vmntuu'ms 2008 11iazOr's ?IE1OO Off EDSETMBR3 2003 Pick-Up's 4Serving Milton For Over 3 Generations The sensible way to buy a car or truck RICHARDSGN CHEVROLET-GLDSMOBILE HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RD., MILTON B BUY WITH CONFIDENCE UY HI