MUSKOKA LAKES – A century-old Muskoka Lakescottage was destroyed in an early morning fire on Wednesday.
Stone chimneys and foundations are all that it is left ofthe once highly visible, 110-year old cottage on LakeMuskoka’s Belle Isle near Milford Bay. The over 7,000 square foot cottage wasvalued at more than a $1 million, said Muskoka Lakesacting fire chief Jim Schneider.
Schneider said only one resident and her dog were at thecottage at the time of the fire, which started shortly before 1 a.m. on Aug.18.
“She woke up to a crackling sound,” said Schneider.
The woman tried to fight the fire on her own for a shorttime, but then left by boat to call for help, he said.
She was not injured in the blaze but her dog could not befound and may not have survived the fire.
Muskoka Lakes fire stationsreceived the call at 1:07 a.m., said Schneider. MilfordBay, Walker’s Point and the Bracebridge Marineunit responded to the call along with OPP.
The fire was fully involved when boats arrived.
“It was just a huge fire ball,” said Schneider. Many nearbycottagers could see the flames and Schneider estimates there were nearly 40calls to emergency services from concerned residents.
It took fire crews until around 10 a.m. to fully extinguishthe fire, he said.
The blaze ignited the surrounding brush and left a trail of scorchedtrees in its wake.
The cause of the fire is not known, but it is not suspiciousin nature, said Schneider. The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office was on sceneWednesday investigating the cause, he added.
The grey cottage was known in the area for its distinctivered roof and was often photographed as it was visible from the water.