Cobourg Fire Department responded to a structure fire Saturday afternoon after an automatic alarm led firefighters to a building at 701 Brook Road North, Unit 18.
At approximately 3:45 p.m. on August 22, 2026, firefighters were dispatched to the property for an automatic alarm. When crews arrived, they discovered smoke coming from a bay door at the rear of the building.
The incident was immediately upgraded to a structure fire, and firefighters from Hamilton Township were called in to assist.
The building’s sprinkler system had activated and extinguished most of the fire before firefighters entered.
Wearing breathing apparatus, Cobourg firefighters entered the building and extinguished the remaining fire.
One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The individual did not require transportation to hospital.
Acting Fire Chief Kevin Ashfield said the sprinkler system played an important role in keeping the fire contained.
Ashfield said the sprinkler system limited the spread of the fire, allowing firefighters to deal with what remained as a relatively small fire.
The preliminary cause of the fire is believed to be batteries that were stored inside the building for recycling.
The batteries are a smaller type commonly used in computers.
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
