Fire destroys abandoned barn, shed just north of Guelph

A fire at an abandoned shed and barn in Guelph's north end is being treated as suspicious.

Fire crews were called to the property at 604 Silvercreek Pkwy. N. Monday morning at 1:19 a.m.

Firefighters knocked down the the buildings in a defensive attack on the fire and protected an abandoned house on the property from also catching fire.

Both the shed and barn were destroyed by the blaze.

"The property has been abandoned for some time and is owned by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. The cause of this fire is unknown and it is currently being investigated," Guelph Police said in a release.

It was the first of two fires Guelph firefighters were called to Monday.

An abandoned barn at 7070 Fife Rd., south of Guelph was also destroyed. Firefighters were called to the scene at 3:36 a.m.

The roof had collapsed and most of the walls had fallen in prior to the arrival of firefighters. The barn was located back from the road, hidden from view by several trees.

No one was injured in either blaze.

String of fires in area

There have been a string of fires at vacant homes in the area.

• Oct. 14 – Crews responded to a fire at an abandoned home on Third Line.
• Oct. 19 – A second fire was reported less than a kilometre away on Third Line at another abandoned home.
• Oct. 28 – A fire was reported at a vacant home on Arkell Road.
• Nov. 16 – Crews were called to an early morning fire at a sawmill on Sixth Line, east of Fergus. This fire was different as it was skids of hardwood flooring, and not a building, that was set on fire.