Duane Hicks
Concerned about people breaking into the old Rainy Lake Hotel, Fort Frances Fire Chief Frank Sheppard, firefighter Rob Dokuchie, and OPP Cst. Darren Daniew suited up to go into the vacant building last Wednesday morning to secure it against future unauthorized access.
“All of the back accesses that were easily accessible are now boarded over and screwed in tight,” Chief Sheppard said.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to be able to get in there without a ladder or some power tools to be able to access it,” he added.
Chief Sheppard said the fire department was following up on an incident Oct. 30, when some youths set fire to a vehicle in the area of Crowe Avenue.
An OPP investigation into the cause of the fire revealed a paper source was used to ignite the flames.
Police deduced the paper may have come from inside the Rainy Lake Hotel, and they and the fire department went to the building.
They found it was not secured, and there was evidence of
someone gaining access to the building on the second and third floors.
Cinder blocks had been piled up on the first-floor roof in order to gain access via the fire escape.
“It’s one of those things where we had to react to it,” said Chief Sheppard.
“And unfortunately, if you know you have people that are able to get in there, in the interest of public safety, it’s best that we seal it up and minimize any access opportunities people have.
“It’s purely public safety,” he stressed. “There [are] businesses on both sides, and if a fire got going in there—it’s still a very solid, solid building, so it’s not like it’s going to erupt in flames—but there still is a potential for damage to occur if a fire was intentionally started inside the building.
“And there’s enough fire load itself that it could create a problem.”
Many people have wondered what the inside of the old hotel is like, given it’s been vacant since 2005. Chief Sheppard shed some light on the state of the building.
“There is some evidence of mold, but I wouldn’t say that it’s a huge mold problem at this point,” he noted.
“Really, the building still is largely intact,” he added. “It’s kind of unfortunate in many ways that it’s been allowed to deteriorate because water damage to some level has occurred and there’s some paint peeling.
“But really, for the most part, the building is still structurally very sound and it’s a very solid building.”
The trio who went into the building donned Level B hazardous material suits and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) as a matter of due diligence. But Chief Sheppard said the environment inside the hotel is not as hazardous as their gear may have suggested to onlookers.
“Probably, if you were fitted for them and they were available, a dust mask would probably be all that’s required,” he remarked.
“But that [the hazmat suit and SCBA] is the equipment we use and it’s what we’re most comfortable with. It works for us.
“It’s probably far more than was necessary,” he conceded. “The suits themselves, they’re a relatively inexpensive suit so they become a disposable item almost.
“Whereas if I have to get our turnout gear [the traditional firefighting jacket and pants] cleaned, it’s quite an expensive process to do that,” Chief Sheppard explained.
As for the SCBA, he said: “You never know the potential for methane gas, sewer gas, and those sort of things in there.
“We just err on the side of caution and go in with that protective equipment.”
Chief Sheppard said they brought along gas monitors, and got no indication of gas in the air.
Referring to the inside of the structure, Chief Sheppard noted there’s no reason for any kind of public concern at this point, but admitted, “I wouldn’t suggest it’s a place I would want to spend a lot of time.”
“It’s obviously an old, abandoned building and who knows what’s in there?” he remarked. “Even as far as in the building construction periods—was there asbestos used, how much was used, what’s the levels of it that are there?
“I can’t even speak to that.
“So, like I say, we’re going to err on the side of caution and make sure none of us get hurt that way,” he reiterated.
As for squatters, Chief Sheppard said people definitely could have been accessing the building, but there was no obvious signs of anyone “camping” there.
“I don’t believe anyone was staying there,” he noted. “There’s no indications that somebody’s living there.”
Chief Sheppard said the fire department has been monitoring the building’s exterior condition monthly and will continue to do so.
In the meantime, anyone who sees questionable activities around the Rainy Lake Hotel should contact the local OPP.
