Firefighters douse overnight fire in the abandoned structures in Lower Woodstock
The Woodstock Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the abandoned Cozy Cabins site in Lower Woodstock in the early morning hours of Jan. 3.
Fire Chief Harold McLellan said the call came in at 2:09 a.m. He said fire crews spent four hours bringing the blaze in one of the derelict cabins under control.
He said the cause of the fire is “under investigation,” noting the buildings are unused and without power.
McLellan said abandoned buildings like the string of former tourist cabins located along lower Main Street in the south end of Woodstock pose a threat. Friday morning’s blaze is the second structure fire in recent years at the Cozy Cabins location.
The fire chief believes the remaining cabins should be demolished.
“It should have been done since the last fire,” he said.
McLellan said he heard rumours that a potential new owner has plans to develop the property, which once housed a restaurant, motel and cabins. He said he is seeking details about the property’s current ownership.
He said town officials are trying to address issues surrounding derelict buildings, but finding a legal process isn’t always easy.
“I know they may be hitting their head against a brick wall,” McLellan said.
Woodstock staff and council are updating its Dangerous and Unsightly Premises Act to make it easier to deal with derelict buildings and property of concern.
Woodstock Director of Planning Andrew Garnett also noted in council updates that discussions are underway about the possible development of the former Cozy Cabin property.
The fire chief said his department has been busy during the first three days of the new year, with up to eight calls, including false alarms, by the morning of Jan. 3. He said most of the calls involved motor vehicle accidents, including a pair of tractor-trailer mishaps along the Trans Canada Highway on Jan. 2.
He said that follows a record year for his fire crew, who responded to 337 calls in 2024.
“That’s 30 calls more than the year before,” McLellan said.
On a more positive note, he said the fire department enjoyed a relatively quiet Christmas season in 2024.
“Over Christmas and New Year’s, we got a little reprieve over four or five days,” McLellan said.
