A fire destroyed the Costello & Company Monument’s building on Highway 43 outside Smiths Falls on Monday afternoon.
“It was a total loss,” said Greg Saunders, Drummond/North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue fire chief. “The fire was very fast moving.”
Saunders said fire was throughout the building when first responders arrived. Crews got the call just after 1 p.m. on July 22.
Saunders said no one was injured in the blaze.
There are no dollar loss estimates available at this time.
Saunders confirmed the Office of the Fire Marshal was notified because of the “significant dollar loss.”
Numerous area fire departments responded to the structure fire that closed the highway for several hours.
BBD&E Station & South Sherbrooke stations of the Drummond/North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue led the fight with help through mutual aid provided by the Smiths Falls Fire Department, Montague Fire Department, Beckwith Fire Department and Mississippi Mills Fire Department. The Perth and Carleton Place fire departments remained on standby in Smiths Falls.
Mutual aid departments assisted with extra tankers and firefighters.
Saunders thanked all of the neighbouring fire departments, Ontario Provincial Police and the Lanark County Paramedic Service for their assistance with the fire.
The cause of the blaze is remains under investigation.