UPDATE: Cause of Winfield Bakery blaze appears accidental

The investigation of the fire that significantly damaged the Winfield Bakery in Lake Country is ongoing, but preliminary findings seem to show it as being accidental.

Lake Country fire chief Steve Windsor told Vernon Matters Friday afternoon that the investigation into the fire was launched that morning.

“Currently we’re still doing some work on site, as far as the investigation, but it appears accidental at this point,” said Windsor.

“But we haven’t concluded our investigation, and that will be ongoing for a bit of time.”

The bakery reportedly closed at 6 p.m. Thursday, but wasn’t able to reopen to the bakers who were to arrive at the building at 8 p.m.

“At 6:20 [p.m.] we received the first call that there was a fire with smoke and flames showing,” said Windsor.

“Our crews arrived, we could actually see it from quite a distance as there was a heavy column of smoke.”

Crews from Oyama and Carr’s Landing also responded to the call, and a total of four fire engines and 24 firefighters spent close to five hours putting out the blaze.

“Crews did initially an interior attack. The roof had started to sag fairly quickly in the middle of it, so they did an exterior attack with some heavy lines, heavy volume of water,” said Windsor.

He added that crews had to get on the roof to cut out sections, which was especially difficult given the fire damage.

Windsor said as of Friday afternoon the structure itself was still standing, as it is built out of cement block.

Photo courtesy of Helen Bennett

Photo courtesy of Helen Bennett

Photo courtesy of Helen Bennett

The fire department will turn over the scene to the insurance company once their investigation is complete

There were no injuries as a result of the fire, and no other structures were damaged.

Windsor added that when crews arrived on the scene there were numerous people standing on the street filming the fire, though the fire department only got one call reporting the blaze.

He reminds people to call 911 to report a fire right away, adding that thinking someone else made the call can result in a delayed response and more significant damages.