Two fires at the historic Kent Brewery in London over the weekend caused extensive damage; authorities do not suspect arson and cite demolition plans for Monday
Fires at Former Brewery Not Considered Suspicious
Back-to-back fires occurred at the site of a former downtown brewery, which is set to be demolished on Monday. The London Fire Department does not consider these fires suspicious.
Firefighters responded to a fire at 197 Ann Street, near the Richmond Street train tracks, early Sunday morning. The fire caused extensive damage to the historic building that once housed the Kent Brewery.
“Crews were dispatched at 2:30 a.m. to investigate smoke in the area. They found smoke and flames visible from all four sides of the building and through the roof of the rear part,” said platoon chief Brent Shea.
There was also a smaller fire in one of the rooms the day before. Shea noted that crews did not find anyone in the building during either fire.
The fire department does not believe the fires were due to criminal activity or arson. They will not investigate further because the site is scheduled for demolition, according to Shea.
“[The owners] have been removing many components of the building,” he said. “Unfortunately, it has been a building that people have tried to access.”
Shea suspects both fires were likely started unintentionally as someone was trying to keep warm.
History of the Kent Brewery
The Kent Brewery was built in 1859 and was the city’s third largest brewery. It closed in 1916 due to prohibition. Various owners used the buildings until York Developments purchased it.
In June, city hall approved the demolition, provided the developer met conditions. These include carefully removing bricks, light fixtures, wooden window frames, and doors for future “commemorative installations,” according to a staff report.
The demolition was controversial when York applied to start work on a 22-storey student apartment building with 214 units.
The old brewery was designated a heritage site three years earlier, and advocates fought to preserve it. The neighboring building at 179 Ann Street was demolished in November.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Fire | Sunday Morning | Extensive damage at 197 Ann Street |
| Second Fire | Saturday | Smaller fire in one room |
| Demolition Approval | June | City hall approved demolition with conditions |
| Heritage Designation | Three Years Ago | Old brewery designated a heritage site |
| Neighboring Building Demolition | November | 179 Ann Street demolished |
