The Independent

A maple syrup evaporator is the likely cause of barn fire which destroyed classic cars and motorcycles near Oil Springs.

South Enniskillen/Oil Spring firefighters were called to the scene around 9 pm Thursday. Chief Al Charlton said the “ball” flames from the barn could be seen above the trees from about a kilometre away. Petrolia and Dawn-Euphemia firefighters were called in to help.

The barn was tucked into the trees and with the warmer weather, the land around it was soggy. The three fire trucks running water from the corner of Oil Springs Line and Oil Heritage Road could “barely keep up” with the need for water to put the blaze out, the chief said.

Charlton says the owner had been making maple syrup in the barn Thursday. He went into his nearby home and when he came back, the building was in flames.

Aside from the evaporator and the crop of maple syrup, Charlton said the owner stores his antique car and motorcycle collection there. Firefighters were able to spare some of the classic motorcycles in a near by shed. Charlton wasn’t sure Thursday night how many vehicles were lost.

The fire chief expects to talk to the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office Friday morning, as required whenever there is a fire with over $500,000 damage. But he says since no one was injured and the cause was accidental, it is not clear if an investigator will come to the scene.

Charlton said the owner wasn’t sure if he had insurance for the barn and its contents.