SOUTH STORMONT/CORNWALL – A burning smell and light smoke that has been permeating the City of Cornwall for days is the result of land clearing in neighbouring South Stormont.
A land owner is clearing a property – known to locals as the trout quarry – on the north side of Cornwall Centre Road, west of Power Dam Drive.
Workers were on site today (Thursday) and have been using heavy machinery to clear brush. They are putting it in slash piles and burning it.
With the prevailing westerly winds, the smoke has been wafting into the city limits, alarming Cornwall residents who believe something in the city is on fire.
The smoke from the fire was so bad in the City of Cornwall last night (Wednesday), it triggered a call and an investigation by the Cornwall Fire Department but nothing was found.
It’s also created a “fog” which could be seen in nearby street and parking lot lights around Brookdale Avenue and Ninth Street.
South Stormont Planning Director, Peter Young, told Cornwall Newswatch the land was recently sold by Infrastructure Ontario to a private landowner.
The land is zoned flood plain and rural, which would permit agricultural uses on the property.
The township is not aware of any planned development, Young said.
South Stormont Fire Chief Gilles Crepeau was heading out to the scene Thursday afternoon to investigate after receiving a call from CNW.
We will be updating this story later today.