Quick fire knockdown saves historic 145-year-old Opera House in St. Marys

Fire destroyed one unit at the Opera House in St. Marys, Ont. on Friday, July 4, 2025 (Brent Lale/CTV London)

A timely response by St. Marys fire fighters saved a historic building from going up in flames.

Just before midnight on Friday, a resident of the Opera House on Water Street went out to walk their dog. They noticed smoke coming from a unit, which faces the back parking lot.

“They ran inside and once they got to the second story, they noticed a lot of smoke in the hallway,” said Chief Phil West of St. Marys Fire Dept.

“They pounded on the door saying, ‘There’s a fire.’ That gentleman might have saved a life.”

The individual went back in and learned another tenant had called 911 and another had used the pull station and fire alarms were activated.

West said the woman was distraught and couldn’t really answer whether she was about to fall asleep or sleeping. She did not need to be taken to hospital and moved with her cat into a friend’s house temporarily.

“We called mutual aid (Granton Fire and Uniondale) right away,” said West.

“It was a quick knock down from the outside and through a window which was broken from the heat of the fire.”

Saturday morning, the building’s owner along with the town’s building inspector and the Chief Fire Inspector of St. Marys Fire were on scene.

Tenants have been displaced until officials can approve a safe return.

“That’s going to be up to the building inspector,” said West.

“St. Marys Fire is going to be involved with making sure the fire system is back up and running, adequately. They’re going to have to determine damage from the water below, from the entranceway, they’re going to have to deal whether that’s safe or close that area off while it’s getting repaired.”

The historic building constructed between 1879 and 1880 has an exterior which is protected by an Ontario Heritage Trust conservation easement. The stone building on the Thames River is also designated by the Town of St. Marys.

The Opera House is significant for its association with social life and performances of Shakespearean plays, musical comedies, vaudeville shows, and even political rallies.The building was restored into apartments in 1987.

History was saved thanks to a quick response by a Samaritan and local fire fighters.

“It could have been a lot bigger and a lot worse,” said West.