UPDATE: June 22, 10 p.m.
Orillia Fire Chief Ralph Dominelli reports the James Street fire is under control. He said heavy equipment is being used to separate piles of household garbage. Pollution control and operations (staff) are on scene helping to contain water.
Orillia firefighters, Orillia volunteers and Rama Tower 1 worked together to douse the flames.
There is no word yet on what caused the large garbage fire. No other details were available as of 10 p.m. Friday night
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ORIGINAL STORY
There is a cloud of smoke over much of the city’s south end and the Memorial Avenue corridor this evening as the result of a large garbage fire on James Street.
Dozens of Orillia firefighters are working furiously to douse the blaze alongside colleagues from the Ramara Fire Service.
The fire erupted at around 7:15 p.m. Friday evening behind the Progressive Waste Solutions depot at 180 James Street.
It’s difficult to get close to the scene, but firefighters could be seen applying water to piles of trash behind the business office that fronts James Street in behind Pizza Hut.
The Rama Fire Department’s aerial truck was called in for assistance and by 7:50 p.m. it was being deployed to shoot water from above.
In a Tweet at about 8 p.m., the Orillia Fire Deparment suggested all residences to the west of James Street close their windows to help keep out the noxious fumes. They also urged onlookers to stay away from the smoke that was swirling over much of the area.
No further information was available as of 8 p.m.
