Sault Fire Hospitalizes 3 Women

Three women suffered from smoke inhalation and one of them was hospitalized when a fire damaged downtown buildings on Ashmun Street in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday afternoon, May 8. The fire has been ruled accidental, the city fire department reported Monday, May 14.

Firefighters from the city, Soo Township, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, responded to the blaze, which closed the Gin Mill bar and caused minor smoke and water damage to adjoining buildings.

Off-duty Coast Guard petty officers Michael Damren and John Peters, of Sault Ste. Marie, who happened to be driving north on Ashmun when they noticed the fire, were the first responders on the scene and pulled two women from a smoke-filled stairwell leading to the second story of the bar.

Firefighters remained on the scene for six hours.