Last Thursday evening, fire fighters responded to a fire alarm from Lighthouse Festival Theatre. The theatre was filled with people attending a ‘Holiday Style’ show organized by King’s Flower & Garden business of Simcoe.

When fire trucks arrived at the downtown landmark, theatre staff was evacuating the building with patrons going outside onto Market Street.

It was discovered that theatre staff had placed a large electric light at an exhibit and its heat set off a sensor in the building. When that happens, alarms sound in the theatre and automatically alert the fire department.

Two emergency trucks responded immediately. After firefighters inspected the building and gave the all-clear the patrons were allowed to return.

Administrative Director Helen Wagenaar told The Maple Leaf afterwards that, while unfortunate, the mishap proved how effective the theatre’s alarm system works and their evacuation procedures. Lighthouse Theatre is regularly inspected for fire safety and she expressed her satisfaction that the system in place works in an emergency as intended.

Dave King of King’s Flower and Garden said “the firefighters did a good job” adding the incident lasted about 30 minutes so they abbreviated their home entertaining and holiday decorating show. Profits were donated to Simcoe Rotary Club who in turn donated to support the Workforce Re-Employment Initiative through Norfolk Literacy Council. Mr. King noted that in the past five annual events, profits for charity amount to $10,000.

Firefighters were called out Sunday morning to another Main Street alarm at “On The Fringe”. Scott Wenige was working in the neighbouring building when he smelled smoke. He smashed the window in the front door of On The Fringe and located a neon sign fixture that had fallen. The fire department was alerted. Main Street was closed to traffic. Port Dover Fire Station Chief Gary Spragg told The Maple Leaf “the store was full of smoke, he probably prevented a serious fire. Scott is a hero.”