Fire displaces residents of The Belmont

Residents watched from the windows of the church across the street as firefighters worked to control a fire at The Belmont Wednesday morning.

Many still in their pyjamas, most of the 24 residents of the independent living seniors residence in Stayner were at the church awaiting transportation to a hotel, an effort coordinated by the County of Simcoe.

Three residents had been transported to the hospital in Collingwood with minor injuries, said the County’s Paramedic Services acting platoon supervisor Leah Emmerton. She could not speak to the nature of their injuries.

All stations responded to the fire at 7232 Highway 26 just after 9 a.m. Clearview Fire Chief Scott Davison said firefighters were on scene all day working to fully extinguish the fire which will be investigated by the Office of the Fire Marshal.

On Wednesday firefighters could be seen working on both the north and south side of the facility.

Owner Jon Wells said an accidental fire started in the kitchen. He said fully functioning alarms sounded and sprinklers were engaged, all systems having been inspected and passed.

He said residents were being transported to a hotel in Midland, where they could all be together and continue to be cared for. The intention is to move them to Collingwood when accommodations become available.

“It’s a hard day,” said manager Karin Brady. “I’m proud of my staff. They know the drill and they knew what to do.”

She said the fire is devastating because a lot of hard work has been put into renovating the home, which opened in 2024 in the building that fermoerly housed Huronia Guest Home.

Brady said the home was almost at capacity having just completed the renovations.

“Our heart and soul has gone into the building,” said Brady. “It was better than it had ever been.”