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Councillor admits concern for Spruce Lane Farm continued from p.1 Following the fire, the Province cleared the site, demolishing the remains of the farmhouse, as well as its outbuildings and a silo. As a result, no potential heritage attributes remain on the property. Town staff noted because the Province owned the property, it did not have to get a demolition permit. Duddeck said the current legislation, which prevents municipalities from designating heritage properties owned by the Province under the Ontario Heritage Act, meant the vacant Oakhurst Inglehart House did not have the protection it should have had. "Had it been able to be designated, we could have taken the appropriate steps to make sure it was safeguarded, inspected and that the appropriate precautions were taken," said Duddeck. "We realize some of these properties that are not highly visible, unfortunately, are good candidates for unsavoury behaviour." Ward 4 Town and Regional Councillor Allan Elgar also took issue with the Province being able to demolish what remained of the 1470 Bronte Rd. site and the Town having no say in the protection of any remaining heritage features. "I think it is time for a change," he said. "It's 2016. So, hopefully we can do something." Ward 5 Town and Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll said he, and the Trafalgar Township Historical Society, had lobbied the Province concerning the preservation of the Oakhurst Inglehart House, but nothing was done. "The fact is, the Province was very much aware of the risks to this property," said Knoll. "There were commitments to put fences around it and do all kinds of things and nothing ever happened. The Province was certainly aware of it and I hope someone will read this letter and at least get the point that Oakville is under control. Firefighting efforts were hampered with no fire hydrants in the immediate area, water had to be relayed and pumped from the nearest hydrant on Upper Middle west of Bronte Road. In the wake of the blaze, Oakville's Deputy Fire Chief Brian Durdin said the building had been abandoned and boarded up for years. The blaze is considered suspicious, he said, because the power and gas to the building were shut off long ago. Durdin confirmed fire crews were called out to the same property the day before the blaze -- around 3 p.m. for a brush fire. He said a pile of brush near the house had been on fire, but was smoldering by the time firefighters arrived to extinguish it. The home was not damaged during that incident. According to the Trafalgar Township Historical Society, the Oakhurst Inglehart House was built by the Inglehart family in the late 1800s. By mid-October, the OPP confirmed there were suspicions a serial arsonist may be at work in the area after a large shed burned down at Bronte Provincial Park, a short distance away from where the heritage house had stood. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, OPP spokesperson, said the proximity of the fires and the fact the shed fire appeared to have been deliberately set, had raised alarm. Both fires are under investigation by the OPP . 5 | Friday, January 22, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com A late September 2015 blaze destroyed the vacant Century heritage house, Oakhurst Inglehart House, which led to the demolition of its charred remains. It sat on provincially-owned land on Bronte Road, south of Upper Middle Road. | Oakville Beaver file photo concerned about the loss of these heritage assets going forward." Duddeck said her concern extends to Spruce Lane Farmhouse, located in Bronte Creek Provincial Park and owned by the Province. She said that house was built in 1899 and should be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act so its preservation can be ensured. As the Town currently does not have the authority to designate it, council is calling on the Province to take this action. Council passed Duddeck's motion unanimously. It was on Sept. 27, 2015 the two-storey, century-old home on Bronte Road, south of Upper Middle Road, was engulfed by fire early in the evening. Oakville Fire, along with Halton Regional Police, responded to the vacant home around 6:45 p.m. with smoke showing upon arrival of the first crew and fire breaking through a section of the roof minutes later. 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