Damage is estimated at over half a million dollars following a early morning fire on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in rural Port Hope.
At approximately 3:40 a.m. Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services responded to a structure fire just east of County Road 65 on the 5th Line.
Responding crews knew they had a “working fire” with the glow in the sky from the flames.
When fire crews arrived, a large steel structure (Quonset hut) was fully engulfed in flames.
Fire Chief Jason Williams said workers at the agricultural operation reported the fire and called 9-1-1.
Every fire apparatus that Port Hope Fire and Emergency has responded to the size due to the size and intensity of the fire. Hamilton Township Fire Department was also called for tanker support.
Forty firefighters battled the flames and intense heat from the fire for several hours.
“A large metal structure filled with combustible material – it’s very difficult for fire suppression.”
Williams said that heavy equipment was called in to “peel the steel back” and gain access to the flames.
In the immediate area of the fire there were a large number of totes that were full of oil. Firefighters had to also deal with diesel fuel, gasoline, propane cylinders that were exploding.”
This building is utilized for the production of mushrooms.
“In this particular building this is where they were producing the fertilizer for the mushrooms and in the adjacent building is where they were growing them.”
There are a number of different agencies were contacted as a result of the fire including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Labour and Office of the Fire Marshal.
The Ministry of Environment was involved with an environmental assessment. The Ministry of Labour was scheduled to attend and the OFM was also contacted, but did not attend.
Williams said the 9-1-1 callers were workers staying in the adjacent building.
Firefighters have identified potential fire code violations in the adjacent building which Williams said they will be maintaining custody of until the investigation is complete.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
