All the people from the 60 residences evacuated during a massive blaze in Markdale are now allowed to return home.
Grey Highlands Mayor Brian Mullin tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the evacuation order was partially lifted around noon Saturday.
However, about 10 homes immediately surrounding the Chapman’s Ice Cream factory were still under the order until Sunday afternoon.
Mullin says the evacuation order has now been completely lifted and officials are trying to get in touch with all the homeowners to let them know they can return.
Mullin says homeowners are telling him their properties made it through the incident relatively unscathed.
The fire was contained to the plant, but the thick black smoke that billowed for hours did cause some smoke damage to nearby homes.
Mullin says he does not have a dollar figure on the amount of damage caused in the neighbourhood, but says for the Chapman’s plant alone it will be in the tens of millions.
Mullin says he takes comfort in the fact that nobody was killed or seriously injured during the huge fire, which was sparked by a welder doing work outside the plant on Friday morning.
The Mayor says this was definitely not something the community needed after a tornado caused 2 million dollars damage on August 20th.
But he also says it was great to see the way the community pulled together once again, with many individuals and companies donating food and bottled water.
Mullin says a Boil Water Order remains in effect for everyone on the Markdale water system, with bottled water available at the arena.
Residents can drop by between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday or can call 519-986-3301 to request a water delivery if they can’t make it to the arena themselves.
Mullin expects the Boil Water Order to remain in effect for several days, with crews coming in Monday to flush the system and do testing.
Mullin says it’s also great to hear that David Chapman has announced his 400 employees will continue to be paid through insurance during the rebuild process.
He says the workers, many from the village and surrounding communities, can rest assured that their jobs are secure and the plant will be rebuilt in Markdale.
Grey Road 12 has been closed all weekend between Wellington Street and Terra Drive, but will be reopened as of 9 o’clock Monday morning.
Demolition is underway at the 150 year old plant, which was reduced to rubble by the fire.