Minaki Lodge destroyed by suspicious fire

Minaki Lodge, the posh, historic and often controversial wilderness resort north of Kenora, burned to the ground yesterday.

The fire, which began around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, is being investigated by the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office and the Ontario Provincial Police, who are treating the property as a crime scene.

On Labour Day, the resort's new owner closed the place with just 24 hours notice to guests and staff.

Media reports indicate that numerous Minaki Lodge suppliers were left with unpaid bills.

The owner, Land Development Company Inc. of Calgary, had tried unsuccessfully to get a condominium licence for the property and was trying to sell the resort.

The following news release was issued by the OPP at 4:38 p.m. on Monday:

**************************************************************** MINAKI, ON, Oct. 13 - The Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, with the assistance of the Office of the Fire Marshal, is investigating a large-loss fire that occurred in the early hours Sunday morning (12 October) in the hamlet of Minaki.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday, police were notified of a fire at a local landmark - the Minaki Lodge. The O.P.P. was notified of the fire by the lodge supervisor, who was sleeping in a cabin on the property Sunday morning. He had been awakened by loud noises and saw that the main lodge was engulfed in flames.

No one was in the main building at the time of the fire.

Fire crews from the Minaki Volunteer Fire Service, Pellatt Township Volunteer Fire Service and the Kenora City Fire & Emergency Service attended the scene to assist with fire suppression.

The main lodge was completely destroyed by fire. At the time of the fire, the Minaki lodge, owned by Calgary businessman Phil Archer, was closed for the season and a small number of staff were on site winterizing the buildings.

The loss is estimated in the millions. An investigator from the Office of the Fire Marshal arrived on scene Monday and is expected to be on site several days investigating the cause of this large-loss fire.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police - North West Region Forensic Identification Unit and Kenora Detachment are also on site. The investigation is continuing.

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