Emergency declared in Meaford after destructive fire sparks environmental concerns
The Municipality of Meaford has declared an emergency days after a fire tore through an automotive shop, causing water safety concerns for the community.
The municipality declared a formal emergency late Sunday afternoon due to "ongoing environment concerns" following the blaze on Sykes Street North Thursday evening that destroyed a used car dealership and auto repair shop on Highway 26.
"We have concerns about soil contamination and residue from the site flowing into the nearby watercourse if the weather changes," the municipality noted.
According to the municipality's website, declaring an emergency gives it more power and authority to respond to the situation.
RELATED | Meaford fire on Highway 26 destroys automotive shop
The municipality temporarily stopped the water supply and issued a drinking water and water consumption notice to monitor for any contaminants.
Residents were asked to avoid drinking the water until it could be tested.
"We are doing everything that we can to expedite the approvals that we need from provincial partners. While we know this is an inconvenience to residents and businesses, we expect to have additional information about the 'Do-Not-Consume' advisory within the next 48 hours. Our thoughts are with the owners of Johnny B's, as they will be dealing with the consequences of Thursday's fire for months to come," stated Mayor Ross Kentner on the municipality's website on Sunday.
Residents are also encouraged to avoid providing tap water to pets or using the water to brush teeth, wash food, prepare food and drinks, make baby formula, or make ice cubes.
Businesses are not required to close.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
A water distribution centre set up at the Meaford & St. Vincent Community Centre on Collingwood Street West is open to residents between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day until the 'Do Not Consume' advisory is lifted.
Bottled water is available at the arena for residents while supplies last. The limit is one case per family.
Residents are asked to bring bottles and containers to fill with water at the temporary water distribution and refill centre.
Anyone unable to physically pick up water can call 211 for assistance.
The municipality stated there are no concerns regarding air quality at this time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.