(Huntsville/Lake of Bays) On January 10, 2026, at approximately 5:04 p.m., the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department was dispatched to a rental townhome and apartment complex on Horizon Lane after a neighbour heard smoke alarms sounding next door and smelled smoke.

Upon arrival, firefighters could hear active smoke alarms from the driveway and observed strobe lights, however no smoke was visible from the exterior of the building.

Firefighters made entry into one rental unit and encountered a light haze of smoke and elevated carbon monoxide levels, with no fire located. Firefighters then made entry into the neighbouring unit, where a working fire was discovered in the kitchen.

Firefighters fought the fire in zero visibility conditions and quickly knocked it down. Due to intact fire separations, the fire was unable to spread to adjacent units.

Firefighters from Station One (Huntsville) and Station Five (Port Sydney) responded with 18 firefighters and six apparatus.

There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident. The occupants of the dwelling were not home at the time of the fire.

Damage is preliminarily estimated at over $80,000, primarily to the kitchen area, with smoke damage throughout the unit. Fire Prevention Officers conducted a thorough investigation into the cause and origin of the fire, determining that an air fryer appliance was responsible. The appliance had been used shortly before the fire was reported and remained plugged in at the time of the incident.

The landlord had proactively invited the fire department to inspect the rental complex in the fall of 2024. Following the inspection, a comprehensive fire safety plan was developed and approved by the fire department prior to the incident. The landlord also ensured that working smoke alarms were installed in each unit. The privately owned fire hydrant within the complex had been recently inspected and tested and was kept clear of snow.

In Ontario, landlords are responsible for testing smoke alarms in rental units at least once per year and for replacing alarms that are expired or malfunctioning. Tenants with fire safety concerns are encouraged to contact the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division.

Pictured: Plugged in air fryer was determined to be the cause of the incident.

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For more information contact:

Steve Markham
Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department
Public Education/Fire Prevention Officer 
705-789-5201 x 3609
media@hlobfire.ca