‘Big loss’: Community picking up the pieces after destructive Ayr fire
Posted Mar 3, 2026 01:25:53 PM.
Last Updated Mar 3, 2026 01:45:54 PM.
The impacts of Monday’s destructive structure fire in Ayr are being felt by the local community, after the once pizzeria, coffee shop, and apartment have now been torn to rubble.
Crews worked overnight and throughout Tuesday morning to bring down the charred remains of the fire, just off the corner of Northumberland and Stanley streets in Ayr, due to safety concerns at the front end of the building, requiring it to be demolished.
The fire itself was first reported late Monday morning, when fire crews and emergency services from across the region were sent to tend to the blaze.
The local community filtered to the surrounding streets throughout the day on Monday, returning Tuesday morning to see what was left of the historic building.
“I live over here, not far. I heard the sirens, looked out the window, and I could see smoke,” said Gill, a resident in the neighbourhood. “It was just smoke, they were putting the water to it like crazy, a lot of it on the building next door to keep it from spreading.”
“It’s a big loss, a real shame,” said Norm, who frequently walks through a park in the area. “They did good business, both places.”
“It is devastating to see this historic building ravaged by fire,” said Mayor Sue Foxton and the township’s council in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the residential tenants and commercial operators who have lost so much because of this fire. As a community, we stand with you during this difficult time.”
“Everybody loved that pizza joint, and the coffee shop next door was well-liked. It’s just sad to see an old part of the town’s history go up in flames,” Gill stated.
One person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from the incident in Ayr, with multiple sources and those community members saying the tenant of the upstairs apartment had to leap out to escape the fire.
“You hate to see a couple of businesses go out, and the poor guy that lived upstairs, I heard he got injured and lost one of his pets,” said Norm.
Foxton and council added that they will be “keeping one individual who was injured in the fire, in our thoughts and wishing them a smooth and full recovery.”
The exact cause of the structure fire in Ayr is still not known, and the extent of the costs associated with the building is not known.
570 NewsRadio has reached out to the township’s Fire Chief for comment.
“We are humbled by the dedication and commitment of our North Dumfries firefighters,” stated Foxton and township council. “Thank you Wilmot, Cambridge and Kitchener Firefighters your assistance today. True teamwork.”
