The South Bruce OPP and the Crime Unit are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire along the rail trail Trestle Bridge near Paisley after they deemed the cause suspicious.
On June 5th at about 5:20 p.m., the South Bruce OPP received a report of a fire along the rail trail in Greenock Township. Officers responded with members of the Paisley, Saugeen Shores and Walkerton Fire Departments to find a trestle bridge fully engulfed by flames.
Mayor of Arran-Elderslie and Bruce County councillor, Steve Hammell, says this was a very unfortunate incident
“It is very dry out there, and there is a chance that [the fire] could have been [started by] a cigarette butt from one of our users of the trail. But it is also on our minds that this could have been intentionally set and it is very disappointing and saddening. But we won’t let this get in the way of having a future trail and I’m hopeful that we’ll get back to normal here shortly.”
Hammell adds Bruce County Staff are assessing the structure for repair needs.
“We don’t know the scope of the repair work yet. However, we are under the belief that it is a repair, that the top part of the bridge was burnt but we are hopeful that underneath is A-OK and we can be back with a new bridge as soon as possible.”
Bruce County Council will be discussing next steps to repair the bridge at their upcoming meeting June 17th.
Investigators are interested in viewing any video surveillance leading to the Willow Creek Bridge between 12:00 p.m. on June 4th, and 12:00 p.m. on June 6th.
The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1122.
