In the days that follow there will be a de-briefing of the fire that happened at the Golden Plough Lodge Long-Term Care on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
There will be lots of talk about what went right, pats on the back saying “job well done,” but we hope there are also things brought up about what went wrong.
The fire was initially reported as an automatic alarm but there was upgraded for all firefighters to attend when reports came in that it was a “structure fire.”
When crews arrived on scene the fire was contained to one room and appears to have been isolated to a lounge chair.
A sprinkler system likely extinguished the fire. Firefighters checked for extension and ventilated the area as best they could.
One resident told Today’s Northumberland the occupant of the room is a smoker, but it’s unknown how the fire started.
Let’s start off with the best news possible.
No one was seriously hurt.
Five staff were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
They don’t appear to be serious injuries, but we wish them all the best.
All staff working should be praised for their quick action with the residents.
Something that we all take for granted at one point or another is emergency services.
But they all arrived extremely quickly when dispatch said it was an actual structure fire.
Cobourg Fire Department, Northumberland County Paramedics and Cobourg Police all arrived quickly and it was comforting to see.
When there is someone in need, emergency services are there – always.
The sprinkler system did its job and that is a blessing.
Before the fire got worse, the heat from the blaze activated the sprinkler system and extinguished the fire.
Things worked the way they should have – almost.
Northumberland County was slow to non-responsive in notifying the public of the fire for hours.
Fire apparatus, police vehicles and ambulances lines the immediate area of the Golden Plough.
Word spready quickly something was happened with all the emergency services on site.
Social media is a blessing and also a sin when it comes to emergency services.
A blessing that they can give updates on road closures, weather conditions etc, but a sin when they are wrong or post information too soon.
A social media group called Peterborough Scanner Feed issued a post stating there was a “mass casualty incident” at the Golden Plough Lodge, “where a fire has been reported on the third floor.”
The post stated there was “11 urgent and 13 less urgent patients reported.”
“Paramedics have begun transporting patients to Northumberland Hills Hospital.”
Communications Director Kate Campbell said that there were 23 residents assessed. All but five either returned to work if they were staff, or were taken to the auditorium if they were residents. Five staff were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
Social media posts like this cause panic for relatives or friends of residents at the Golden Plough when they read it.
When in fact, some of what was said wasn’t true.
The fire was on the main floor, not the third. There were five taken to hospital – not 24.
The other issue – that is very concerning.
Where was the County in all of this?
Today’s Northumberland reached out in the early stages of the incident by phone to Warden Brian Ostrander, Councillor Mandy Martin, Communications Director Kate Campbell.
None were available by text or phone. That isn’t their fault. It’s the weekend, there are many things going on – or even maybe it’s just time to relax. Deputy Warden Olena Hankivsky was the only person who answered and was unaware of the emergency until she was told by Today’s Northumberland.
The first and only press release came out two-and-a-half hours after the fire was reported.
With numerous social media posts indicating it was a structure fire and a mass casualty event with varying degrees of injuries, it’s important to get the right message out.
Separate fiction from fact.
That wasn’t done.
Today’s Northumberland was at the scene initially, but had left after reporting what took place.
When numerous people forwarded the post indicating the mass casualty event we returned to get an update.
To alleviate fears from relatives and friends. To inform people.
With no information coming from Northumberland County – it was uncertain when, or if any information would be issued on the fire.
Finally, thankfully at 5:23 p.m. the release came out stating what had happened.
Communications is paramount in any emergency.
Alleviating those fears, the anxiety and separating fact from fiction.
There were many things done right during this fire.
But it shouldn’t be overlooked that there many things also that could and should be improved.
Hopefully the de-briefing will take everything into account.
Update – Fire at Golden Plough Lodge Long-Team Care Home in Cobourg
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
