Kingston Fire & Rescue crews responded early Saturday morning to a fire at the historic Kingston Penitentiary at 500 King Street West.
Crews were dispatched shortly after 4 a.m. and arrived to find flames coming from the roof of Cell Block 1. Firefighters initially began attacking the fire from outside using an aerial truck. When multiple key attempts failed, they were forced to break in due to the site’s strict security measures.
Once inside, crews brought the blaze under control by approximately 5:15 a.m. One firefighter was assessed for heat exhaustion but did not need to be taken to hospital and remained on scene.
Firefighters fully cleared the site around 6:30 a.m., but Kingston Fire & Rescue’s Fire Prevention staff remain on scene to investigate.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. No injuries or structural damage reports have been released as of publication.
Story by Alyssa Brush
