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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK PAGE
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Tillsonburg POST
OCTOBER 2, 2025
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VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3
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Town committee calls for boundary expansion JEFF HELSDON Editor
The town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee is advising council to increase its allotment for institutional/commercial land from 15 to 30 per cent, which would require a boundary expansion to facilitate it. Jesse Goossens, chair of the Economic Development Advisory Committee, spoke at the Sept. 22 council meeting to explain the committee’s recommendations. Oxford County is currently updating a study to forecast growth and land needs for the next 30 years. The committee reviewed the draft findings of the study at its meeting on September 9. As a result, the committee saw a shortage of commercial and institutional land. Committee members reached the conclusion there was a shortage based on: • The demand for commercial space, including for large-format retailers • The presence of multiple churches and institutions seeking land for their growth • The limited inventory of land to meet these growth needs. Goossens suggested increasing the percentage of land allocated for institutional/commercial use would help provide motivation for the expansion of the town’s boundaries. “We need a boundary expansion now,” he said. “We have two main landlords that own the majority of the excess residential land in town. That puts a lot of upward pressure on the cost of land in our town for more new subdivisions.” CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
(TILLSONBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO)
Tillsonburg Fire Department was assisted by Ingersoll and Courtland firefighters in fighting a blaze at Marwood International’s 101 Townline Road plant last Tuesday. The fire caused between $8 to $12 million in damages. Firefighters returned bo the scene to deal with hot spots the following day, and were on scene an additional two hours. Both Tillsonburg and Ingersoll’s aerial trucks are seen here working to tame the blaze.
Fire ravages 101 Townline Marwood plant JEFF HELSDON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A fire last Tuesday caused between $8 and $12 million in damage to the Marwood International plant at 101 Townline Road. Employees on the afternoon shift noticed the fire and attempted to put it out with an extinguisher before calling fire at 8:34 p.m. Firefighters were on scene 11 hours, and were assisted by a second aerial truck from Ingersoll and a pumper, rescue and crew from Norfolk’s Courtland Station.
“Structural roof collapse and compromised walls limited safe interior access and defensive fire tactics were used to contain the conflagration to the central portion of production area, limiting impact on adjacent production areas and the office area,” said Geoff Hayman, Tillsonburg’s fire prevention officer. “The sprinkler system limited the spread of fire into the larger production areas, but the entire structure was impacted by the smoke from the fire and water used in suppression of the fire. Firefighters were called back twice the following day to address some minor hot spots in hard-to-access areas that started burning again. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2