August 11, 2026
The Town of Fort Erie is recognizing the efforts of local firefighters who worked for approximately 16 hours to bring Monday’s major fire at the former Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School under control.
Firefighters from all four Fort Erie Fire Department stations responded to the former school on Ridge Road North at approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, August 10. Crews worked through the night to contain the fire, extinguish hot spots and protect the surrounding community.
The majority of Fort Erie firefighters are volunteers, and many returned to their regular jobs later that morning or used personal time to recover from the physical demands of the lengthy response.
In a Town of Fort Erie press release issued Tuesday, Fire Chief Mark Schmitt praised the coordinated response and the dedication of the firefighters who worked through the night.
“This was a significant and complex fire that required a coordinated response from all four of our stations. Our crews worked under challenging conditions for many hours and displayed the highest standards of professionalism throughout the response. We also recognize the impact an incident of this magnitude has beyond the fireground. It requires sacrifices from spouses, partners, children and loved ones who support our members while they serve our community. The dedication shown by our firefighters and the support they received from their families speaks to the exceptional people we have in our fire service. I am incredibly proud of how our crews performed. We cannot thank them enough.”
Mayor Wayne Redekop also expressed his appreciation for the firefighters in the Town’s press release.
“Our firefighters demonstrated exceptional professionalism, commitment and dedication throughout an extremely challenging incident. On behalf of Council and the entire community, I want to express our sincere appreciation to every firefighter who responded and worked through the night to keep our community safe. Most of these individuals are volunteers; they left the scene and returned to their regular jobs only hours later. Their extraordinary efforts are a powerful reminder of the commitment our firefighters make to Fort Erie every day. Thank you!”
The former RCBHS has a long history in the Ridgeway and Crystal Beach communities.
Demolition work was already underway at the former school property before the fire. The original 1927 front exterior, or west façade, is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act because of its cultural heritage value and architectural and historical significance.
The façade had been intended for preservation and incorporation into the future redevelopment of the property.
According to the Town, crews took great care to preserve the front façade wherever possible while also ensuring the fire was fully extinguished and firefighters could work from safe positions.
The structure had already been compromised and deteriorated, making firefighter safety the primary consideration in decisions made at the scene.
The Niagara Regional Police Service has determined that the fire was an act of arson.
The NRPS 5 District Criminal Investigative Branch worked with the Fort Erie Fire Department as part of the investigation.
Residents and businesses in the area are being asked to review surveillance footage and contact police if they observed anything suspicious around the time of the fire.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009538.
The investigation remains ongoing.
