A fire early in the morning at Hamilton’s Christie Lake Conservation Area led the YMCA to shut down its Camp Chippewa program for the week and evacuate children from the site by bus after some facilities were damaged.
At that time, there were 249 campers present, Shawn Mc Killop, senior vice-president of communications with the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford, informed .
The Hamilton Police Service reported that officers and firefighters responded to the structure fire at the conservation area located at 1002 Highway 5 in Flamborough around 7 a. m. ET.
No injuries have been reported among campers or staff, according to the conservation authority.
Hamilton police Chief David Cunliffe stated that when they arrived on scene, firefighters found that the Beach Pavilion had collapsed and was engulfed in flames, while the Lakeside Pavilion was also burning and partially collapsed.
Cunliffe mentioned that crews observed clear signs indicating there had been a third attempt to set fire to another building, known as the Marine Pavilion.
Cunliffe estimated damages to be between $4 million and $5 million. The investigation into the fire is ongoing, he noted.
Conservation area closed for public safety
The conservation authority indicated that significant damage occurred in two buildings: Lakeside Pavilion and Beach Pavilion 1, which contains beach store and restroom facilities.
The conservation area will remain closed for today to ensure public safety while assessing damage and allowing authorities to investigate further.
Mc Killop from the YMCA confirmed that Camp Chippewa would stay closed for the rest of the week. Families will receive refunds for any affected camp days and are being contacted directly with further information and instructions.
“We are assessing the impact on YMCA programming for the remainder of the summer and will provide families with another update later this week,” said an organization representative in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our campers and staff remain our highest priority.”
Christie Lake, seen here in a photo shared by Hamilton Conservation Authority on July 17, is popular for its beach activities and picnic areas. (Hamilton Conservation Authority/Facebook)
This conservation area is well-known for beach enjoyment, picnic spots, and summer camps.
The conservation authority mentioned that staff are reaching out to individuals or groups who have upcoming bookings affected by these damaged facilities.
Operational updates regarding Christie Lake Conservation Area-such as public access status and facility availability-will be posted as more information becomes available.
The police encourage anyone with information about this fire incident to reach out or provide tips through Crime Stoppers. The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been notified but will not be attending at this time as per police updates.
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