Fire destroys Chapeau home: A Chapeau family lost their home and personal possessions last week after an electrical fire engulfed their two-story 107-year-old log home.

The Kennedy family escaped from their burning home after an upstairs smoke alarm went off at the same time the mother was on her way to her son’s bedroom.

The Allumettes Island Fire Department arrived on the scene shortly after the call but by then the upstairs of the house was ablaze.

“The stairway was one of the first things to go,” said fire chief Neil McGuire. The firefighters pumped fire-retardant foam onto the smoldering remains of the home before leaving that afternoon.

Kennedy says the fire drill she and her husband, who used to be a volunteer firefighter, put their children through, paid off big dividends. “They remembered the drill and ran outside and stood where they were supposed to stand,” she said.

A fire department’s dream: Shawville-Clarendon’s ten year dream of building a new fire hall has become a reality.

The grand opening will take place March 25.

The new hall features a larger garage, a new meeting room, a bunker suit room, a shower, a more convenient heating system and an all-around newer, nicer design.

In the process, a new radio system was developed. The new repeater transmits from on top of the water tower.

“This way we have a lot better height, a lot better reception,” said Bob Tracy, head of the building committee.

“The other fire hall was falling down. It was finished. It was outdated,” said firefighter John Beimers.
Mayor Albert Armstrong describes the old building as deteriorating, too small, having cracks in the walls and a leaky roof.