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WATCH: Mark Carcasole takes a tour of the 35-year-old “Ark Two,” a disaster shelter beloved by survivalists that officials say is a hazard.



TORONTO – An Ontario man is fighting to protect his survival shelter from being shut down.

It’s called “Ark Two.” Bruce Beach had it built 35 years ago from 42 school buses that now lay buried under two feet of concrete and 14 feet of earth on his property in Dufferin County, about 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

Fire officials in the area think the bunker is a hazard. They want it permanently welded shut ahead of a survivalists’ summit on the grounds this weekend which is expected to attract hundreds of people from across North America.

Organizer Che Bodhi describes his annual Preppers Meet as the biggest preparedness event in Canada. It will offer everything from a “Zombie Survival Camp” to “Surviving in the Wilderness." One of the more controversial offerings is "Dispatching and Skinning Rabbits.". Trish Kozicka, Global News Preppers Meet organizer Che Bodhi holds a rabbit that will be part of a "Dispatching and Skinning" workshop this Sunday. Bodhi insists the killing will be humane and is part of survivalism training. Trish Kozicka, Global News

Part of the draw was going to be tours of the dark and dingy shelter. It contains a labyrinth of tunnels that house everything Beach figures you’d need to survive a nuclear disaster: pumps for fresh well water, generators for power, canned food, even a giant soup pot to feed survivors.

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Bruce Beach shows us the giant soup pot that could be used to feed survivors in his bunker. Trish Kozicka, Global News These is where you would stay clean. Trish Kozicka, Global News This is where you would sleep. Trish Kozicka, Global News Here's the generator that would power the underground bunker. Trish Kozicka, Global News The interior is dark and dingy, with leaky spots and a low ceiling. Trish Kozicka, Global News The shelter includes a nursery. There's even an area set aside for changing diapers. Trish Kozicka, Global News Story continues below advertisement The shelter also includes a "decontamination" area. Trish Kozicka, Global News Beach stands by a stack of the canned food he has stored in his survival shelter. Trish Kozicka, Global News At the deep part of the shelter, there is two feet of concrete above you and 14 feet of earth. Trish Kozicka, Global News Bruce Beach in front of his nuclear shelter: "Ark Two.". Trish Kozicka, Global News

The whole structure could accommodate 500 people by U.S. standards.

“When you go inside the bunker for the first time, it is a different planet, it’s like you’re on Mars,” said event organizer Che Bodhi. Tweet This

“When you hear about this concept of 42 school buses underground, to fathom it is nothing compared to going in and actually seeing it…It’s crazy in there. Unfortunately, we can’t do that.”

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While Bodhi is willing to comply with authorities’ wishes, Beach refuses to give in.

“I’ll take whatever it takes to knock the weld back off.”

And he says he’ll do it right in front of them, even if it gets him arrested.

EXTENDED: Bruce Beach gives us a tour of his underground survival shelter, the Ark Two.





The dispute, which Beach believes is personal, dates back to 2000. Citing public safety concerns, the Shelburne Fire Board ordered the shelter fixed up and closed.

Beach claims he made the recommended changes and is adamant that the bunker is structurally sound. He adds that it was designed “under the direction of a licensed structural engineer: The individual who happened to build the subway tunnels in Toronto.”

The OPP, which has been asked by the fire department to seal the door on the bunker, says it doesn’t have the authority to do that. That’s up to the fire department. Fire officials didn’t respond to multiple requests from Global News for comment.

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WATCH: 16×9 profiled Beach and others who build underground bunkers to prepare for the end of the world.