BELLEVILLE, ON - May 5, 1996

On Sunday May 5, 1996 at 2:38 p.m., the Belleville Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 309-311 Front Street in the City’s downtown core. 

Upon arrival firefighters under the command of Capt. Thomas Nobles found heavy smoke billowing from the roof of the building and initiated a search of the structure. The structure contained vacant retail space on the first level, the former Goodman store. Above 309 Front Street was the Kafka’s law office and an insurance company. The area above 311 Front Street contained residential apartments.

Firefighters Eric Emerson and Peter Helm found a male resident in the heavy smoke on the second floor of the apartments and removed him from the structure to be taken to Belleville General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and cuts. Meanwhile firefighters assisted a woman and baby from the rear of the building who were also taken to BGH, as a precaution.

The buildings suffered $100,000 in damages according to fire inspector Wally Istead. Firefighters were able to save some of the computers and legal files in the law office and insurance company by throwing heavy tarps over them while they fought the fire.

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